Recent workshops.

Lately I've been working on projects that will emerge later in the year and based around the use of art in health. More about this as it emerges.

During this time I was asked to help Kernow Young Carers and Action For Children, a family project in Redruth, create work that shows why they love their project. The benefit the young people get out of these inclusive projects is astounding.

Some of the young people from the youth project Action For Children got to spend a week at Falmouth Fire Station and get real fire service training. So their collage was all about the energy and excitement they experienced during this incredible week. All the beneficial aspects can bee seen as icons flying out of the hosepipe!

That's Kev there from Action For Children giving the "thumbs up!" verdict on the new work for his office created by Kernow Young Carers.

Then later that week a group of Kernow Young Carers created a transformed version of their logo, incorporating all the aspects of their world that they can experience as being part of the project.

Both pieces of work are on 6ft wide canvases and will be hung in the offices from which the projects are run. We used spray paint, acrylic paint, photos, and our own wheatpaste (made from just flour and water) to create the works. And very powerful works of art they are too!

A drawingonthings workshop sponsored by Cornwall Fire Brigade.

Dracaena Youth Centre, Falmouth. Sunday 11th July 2010

MP Sarah Newton, Cornwall's Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury, and almost 100 young people from 5yrs upwards took part in covering this wall with graffiti (not all at once) to help share the important message of road safety during a massive fun day at the youth centre in Falmouth last Sunday.

Other activities included an alternative petting zoo (with tarantulas and lizards), a funfair, bbq, football tournament, skate, bmx and scooter comp, and archery.

All the young people that took part on the wall took the theme seriously and all of the slogans are theirs. I wrote a few, but I was being dictated to. Graffiti artist 'SIN' turned up and did a peice with a road safety message too.

The result was very successful and enjoyable day for everybody involved, as well as carrying a very important message.

This painting existed for half an hour before the fire brigade tore it apart!

Dracaena Youth Centre, Falmouth. Sunday 11th July 2010

Ok, this is graffiti style. But I still had permission! ...and lots of fun. I was doing a big drawingonthings graffiti-esque workshop with spray paint and a wall provided by the fire brigade. Before I did that though, the fire fighters were going to demonstrate how to free somebody trapped in a car and wheeled this little Vauxhall Corsa into the baksetball court. I saw my chance, and took it!

I had about ten minutes to paint the car it before they closed off the basketball court. I painted "drive safe!" and a skull, with his hand on a steering wheel painted on the windscreen, a CCTV camera with a tear coming from the lens on the rear of the car and "SAFETY 1" number plates.

Then, as I enjoyed a cup of tea half an hour later, I watched them tear both the painting and car to shreds whilst Robyn from the Dracaena Centre sat, slightly petrified, in the drivers seat.

After all this riveting display of controlled descruction I helped almost 100 kids from 5-17 yrs graffiti a wall with positive messages about road safety! Pics of the wall above.