Grown-Up Art Club

We’ve just come to the end of a really enjoyable block of grown up art club. Participants learnt how to let go of expectations and treat art playfully. Some of the activities covered were gelli printing, collograph, journal making, creative drawing and more.

And what have I learnt? That adults are definitely better behaved than children at the end of a school day! Also, it’s good to push people gently out of their comfort zones. Also that sometimes the weather gets in the way and it’s ok to just wing it at times – I think most of us do winging our way through life!

In January I’m starting up an extra grown up art club – In addtition to Tuesday evenings 7 – 9 at the Rusty Tractor Cafe, I’ll also be at the Ermington Store and More Hub on Thursdays 11 – 1. For booking, go to the workshops section in my wesite shop.

Below are a few pictures of just some of the activites we’ve done this term…

Grown-up Art Club

I can’t believe we are already halfway through my first Art Club for adults! I’ve been ABSOLUTELY loving it – I mean, REALLY REALLY loving it. Some of the participants are ‘creative’ in some way (in ” marks because of course everyone is creative in one way or another), others feel quite unsure and unconfident with creativity and have been pushed right out of their comfort zones!

Last night was my favourite session so far. It was also the one I was most anxious about – because even though I’d planned a couple of things to do, I was a bit unsure about it, plus it was meant to be a session setting up forfuture projects and someone had just let me know they weren’t coming… I arrived slightly late, then opened my car boot and some of the things I’d taken with me fell out and smashed, shattering glass all over the dark car park which added to my anxiety. Instead, my planned session morphed into something quite different and unexpected, and utterly wonderful (well I thought so anyway 🙂 )

I’d planned a 15 minute fun drawing excersize to loosen everyone up and get creative juices flowing. I’d taken along a selection of very different shaped and textured objects, some man made, some natural, some man made but altered by nature.

They each chose what they wanted to draw first off, and I set a timer for 5 minutes. Their task was to draw what was in front of them for 5 minutes, looking at just the shapes. Then 5 minutes drawing just the negative spaces (the bits between the bits!) Then, 5 minutes drawing without looking at the paper – we all loved that one so much that we did ity twice! Then, 5 minutes using our non dominant hand.

The results we re really interesting!

Then I had a brief comfort break (basically I needed a wee) and on an A4 piece of paper we chose new objects, and drew for 10 minutes without taking the pen off the paper, for 10 minutes. Then another object-swop, and then we ‘drew’ these new objects with scissors, into our non-stop line drawings! We were then left with shapes with lines on.

On the backs of our big pieces of paper, we scribbled the outline of the cut out shapes, which made beautiful patterns. Some of us chose to stick our cut-out shapes onto here, others chose to scribble onto another A4 paper and stick them onto there. The results are all lovely.

It was lovely how everyone got quite meditative, the atmosphere was really calm and peaceful.

That’s just one of the amazing good things that drawing does for you!

Autumnal Wire Leaves Garland Workshop

Spend a fun morning learning the art of working with wire, to create your very own wire leaves garland, inspired by the falling autumn leaves with their wonderful variety of shapes and patterns.

Using pliers, snips and a variety of wires, you will go home with a seasonal home decoration to hang up every autumn, or even leave it hanging up all year round!

With local artist Becky Crawford, at the Ermington Store Hub on Thursday 23rd October 2025, 10 – 12. Click HERE to book

Spacefruit Art Club Evenings…

For grown ups… because why should kids have all the fun?!

An art club with a difference, for grown ups, where we will be doing a different project every 1 – 3 weeks.

From painting, to stitching, to drawing, to mark making, to creating a unique personal journalling/doodling book, to printing… the list goes on.

Bring only your imagination, an open mind and an apron in case things get messy, (plus a few pennies to purchase refreshments from the cafe) – I will provide the rest.

2 quality hours to yourself to escape the routine and chores at home.

Book now for an 8 week block, starting on Tuesday September 30th. Following dates will be: October 7th, 14th, 21st. November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th.

If that seems like too much of a financial commitment to you, just get in touch with me and we can organise drop in sessions to fit around projects that span over more than 1 week.

Time: 7 – 9 pm

Venue: The Rusty Tractor Farm Cafe, Countrymans Choice, Cadleigh Park, Ivybridge, PL21 9JL.

Click HERE to book

contact: becky@myspacefruit.com

Clay animals workshop

So much fun! A great way for children in South Brent to start their summer holidays – by coming to a workshop run by me, to make some wonderful clay animals. Almost all of them had never touched clay before, but look at some of the marvellous things they made! I was so impressed with their determination and quick learning. And such attention to detail – the photo of the curled snake does not show off its teeth to their finest, sharpest and scariest! A really great bunch of creative kids (who didn’t even think they were creative!) who learnt very quickly.

Family craft workshop at Make Southwest

Over the summer holidays, I had the pleasure of running a day of family workshops at Make Southwest in Bovey Tracey. Children and their adults came along to make some stunning tissue paper and wire flowers. Using pliers, snips, scissors, felt pen and water sprays they made some amazing collections of flowers, then they drilled holes in wood blocks to display them in.

As usual, I was blown away by the creativity and skill that some quite young children brought along with them; The flowers were quite tricky for young fingers to make, but as you can see from just a few of the resulting flowers below, they really outdid themselves!

A massive thank you to everyone who came along and made the day so enjoyable, and to Make Southwest for hosting me again.

Childrens lampmaking workshops

I’m teaming up again with Peter Lanyon in his barn workshop nestled between Battisborough Cross and Noss Mayo, to run a couple of childrens lampmaking workshops. This would make a brilliant Christmas present for a creative child who loves hands-on making. As you can see, the workshop we ran over the summer holidays produced some really creative lampshade designs, including one featuring woodworking tools, and one with cats chasing a mouse!
If you’d like to find out more, please click on THIS LINK… Please note, for insurance purposes, children must be aged 8 or above.

Devon Open Studios at waterside location alongside 13 other makers…

It’s that time of year again when artists and makers across the whole of Devon open up their houses and studios and invite the public in to show off their incredible talent. Devon Open Studios is now up and running and I’m excited to let you know that I’m taking part at Flameworks in Plymouth (7 Richmond Walk, Plymouth, PL1 4LL) 

In total there are 14 of us taking part at this waterside venue, so there is plenty to feast your eyes on. Our opening times are Saturdays and Sundays, 10 – 4. Here is a link to my Instagram reel, where you can see a taster of some of what’s on offer… CLICK HERE … For the first time you can see some of the watercolour painting I’ve been doing out on clifftops in Devon, Ireland and the Isle of Harris.. some close ups are pictured above. I’m also showing my silver jewellery, recycled plastic jewellery, wirework, cards and more. I’ll be there myself on Sunday 14th and Sunday 21st September.