On Friday 21st April, Trowbridge Service Users Group teamed up with Nicola Davis Crafts to provide a craft session for their members, creating a silk banner for their stand at the ‘Celebrating Trowbridge’ event.
Nicola is a successful self-taught artist from Wiltshire who also uses her spare time to raise awareness of eating disorders and fundraise for Beat, the UK’s main eating disorder charity. She began specialising in silk painting in 2014 and has since won multiple Young Entrepreneur awards, sold her work to customers in over 25 countries, appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas’ and had her scarves appear in episodes of Emmerdale and The Walking Dead.
Nicola, who regularly attends these sessions as a member, hosted the workshop by first painting the group’s logo outline on silk and then teaching the group how to add colour and their own elements, portraying what Trowbridge Service Users Group means to them. The banner was slowly filled with images of nature, friendship, cups of tea, cake, sunshine, rain, clouds, and meaningful symbols.
Adding the green ribbon for mental health and the sunflower for hidden disabilities
Mark Marshall, Trowbridge Service Users Group leader said “Nicola took her time and explained what to do and how to fix any mistakes (very useful!) At first the session was filled with a little trepidation but soon there was lots of laughter whilst everyone gave it a go. The joy of this session will last for an eternity and each time Trowbridge Service Users group flies this banner it will be a reminder of everything our group stands for: Friendship, Inclusivity, Understanding and Support.”
Trowbridge Service Users Group runs these art sessions at the Town Hall every Thursday, as well as Mental Wellbeing sessions on Tuesdays at Trowbridge Future and Mindfulness Workshops on Fridays at The Community Hub in The Shires. Their group is open to anyone with mental ill health living in and around Trowbridge. All sessions work on a drop-in basis and they welcome any new members with open arms.
To learn more about their group or to offer your support please come visit their friendly stand at the Celebrating Trowbridge Fair on Saturday 7th May, from 10:00 am till 2:00pm in Trowbridge Town Hall and The Civic Centre, Trowbridge.
You can also find Nicola’s work at www.nicoladaviscrafts.co.uk
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