Heidi Compton is one of our HERA Visual Artists. Heidi runs workshops for our BHWC patients and is currently running a weekly online workshop in March and April incorporating simple and fun creative projects that are great for calming the mind. Delivered in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. Easy techniques that require no previous art experience, you’ll do mostly sketchbook based work and one or two 3D craft projects. Bring a cuppa, your art materials and see how giving yourself time and being creative can help bring you some peace of mind.

The main focus of this group is to enjoy being creative in a very informal and gentle way in a small supportive group. Each week we will engage in a different project – a lovely opportunity to learn new ideas and techniques. People really benefit from the calming effect that an hour of art can bring them and of the joy of having the excuse to create some art.

I teach with humour, warmth and enthusiasm – encouraging people to feel confident to follow their instincts and reinforcing that art isn’t all about drawing or paint perfectly! I plan projects that can easily be done by people with any level of art ability and show how simple techniques can still produce striking results – people surprise themselves by just how capable they actually are!

“Joining Heidi’s online art group has brought colour and revived a creative passion back into my world. The classes offered a different focus, I looked forward to them. The group itself offered connection and allowed myself to be on the receiving end of kindness and new calming, creative ideas. It’s been a joy and really wonderful.”

“It feels like having new friends in my living room, without the need to talk (which is good for me as I tend to sob a lot at the moment!), all getting absorbed in the art project. Listening to people’s chatter about ordinary stuff is a bit of a treat at the moment and I always end the evening in a better emotional state than I came to it, while
trying something new and creative.”

“Heidi’s art class has been a real godsend. Really engaging, really encouraging. I’ve never been arty, but these difficult times have been a struggle and this is relaxing and totally absorbing for the hour whilst it goes on, but also encouraging appreciation and curiosity about normal stuff which is definitely helping with stress
levels!”

“I cant thank Heidi enough for getting me back into art. She has given me the confidence and zest to pick up my pencils again after a two decades break and I’ve enjoyed the art (and mindfulness) classes so much. A brilliant antidote.”

“The class has been something to look forward to every Tuesday. During the class i find myself just totally absorbed by the task we have been given and i love having something to focus on – in that moment nothing else matters. It has been nice to open up my creative side and sometimes surprise myself.”

“Having worked in mental health for almost 30years i recognise the benefits of not just doing art work but doing this with others. I can honestly say this is the most rejuvenating hour of my week. I always end the class feeling calm, connected and surprised how with the right instructions i can actually make something that looks nice!”

If you would like to join Heidi’s Art Group she has spaces for her next group after Easter on Mondays 10:30-11:30 online via Zoom please get in tuch with our HERA co-ordinator Ben