When Revd Gill Sakakini says her weekly art group runs ‘whatever the weather’, she means it. ‘If it’s raining, we use brush pens or water-soluble materials such as pastels and incorporate the elements,’ she explains. ‘Being outside adds another dimension, it’s ever changing.’ Drawing On grew out of Gill’s own interest in creating within nature. A pioneer priest in the arts, Gill initially went out with a friend to make art in Collett Park during the closing stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and they were joined by another friend the following week. Their presence generated curiosity among other park users and before long the idea for a permanent art group was born.
‘It’s a really organic, grassroots group and easily replicated,’ enthuses Gill, who now regularly welcomes 20 participants each week for a 40-minute session. The group largely uses simple materials such as triple ply cardboard or Gill’s homemade charcoal, with everything provided so people can literally just turn up.‘In the past, during some eco-focused sessions, people have even composted their artworks afterwards, but we photograph everything,’ she says. ‘It’s about investing in the process not just the output. We offer a low access point for achieving something good. It liberates people and makes them free to think “I’ll just have a go”.’
A typical session begins with a brief circle inclusion exercise. ‘Everyone says their name and that way they feel noticed,’ affirms Gill. Building on her role as a community reverend for the Bath and Wells Diocese, Gill often shares a psalm or poetry to provide inspiration for the day’s activity and notices this often prompts attendees to engage with the theme.‘Support is on offer during the session which makes people feel present,’ says Gill. ‘At the end we return to a shelter and create a pop-up ‘exhibition’, looking at each piece of art together, asking people to share what they enjoyed about their experience.’ Conversations naturally occur over coffee and cake and as people pack up.
As well as attracting practising artists, the focus on mindfulness, opportunity for light touch connection and the pressure-free creative environment has meant Gill’s group has become a key local resource. Drawing On welcomes social prescribing referrals as well as participants seeking mental health support or with additional learning needs.‘The range of people in the group is really diverse and people’s route in is private,’ explains Gill. ‘We’ve had a blind participant who was previously sighted come with their carer and use low grade sandpaper and pastels. A teenager, who wasn't able to attend regular school, came with his mother for about 18 months before re-settling in a different form of education.'
Collett Park is at the core of Drawing On’s ability to reach a diverse audience. ‘It’s a beautiful park in the middle of Shepton Mallet,’ says Judy Graham, senior health connector at Health Connections Mendip which works with GPs locally and refers patients to Gill’s group. ‘It’s much loved by everyone in Shepton Mallet and it’s right Gill is running Drawing On there.Gill’s group has a nurturing atmosphere,’ adds Judy, who runs a weekly Talking Café at The Art Bank on Shepton Mallet’s High Street. ‘It’s a great opportunity for creative expression.’ Judy’s work often takes her to Collett Park. She offers patients outside consultations and runs local health walks with Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) in the park alongside Drawing On and other groups such as open-air tai chi. As well as the obvious allusion to art, Gill reiterates that ‘Drawing On’ also refers to the ways ‘community emerges and grows as we begin to draw on each other in healthy ways for friendship through building trust.’ She believes this was particularly relevant as people sought to move on from the effects of the pandemic.
Rebecca Richmond of mental health charity Mind in Somerset came across Drawing On by happy accident before starting her role as a locality coordinator. ‘I was talking a walk through the park and Gill was there.’ Gill and Rebecca are now able to signpost participants and clients to each other for support in the local area.‘Gill’s group is so well rooted in Shepton Mallet and it’s a wonderful resource,’ says Rebecca. ‘It’s great to know that she’s there and people will be taken care of. It’s very good to be aware of who’s in the community, it can help people who are nervous to reach out. It’s fantastic that her group is being focused on and highlighted.’
One participant benefiting from Drawing On is Martina Bell who came to the group via Discovery, which supports people with learning disabilities in Somerset. ‘When we walked through the park, we’d sometimes see the drawing group,’ says Martina’s key worker Lisa Cullen. ‘She chose to go to her first session independently and was very happy that she’d found the confidence to go on her own. Martina is very creative and loves to draw,’ adds Lisa. ‘She returned after her first group meeting very excited and so pleased that she’d made some new friends. Martina looks forward to Tuesdays and has many ideas of things she’d like to draw. She says she finds drawing in her own zone really relaxing and is learning new artistic skills.’
At the time of writing, Drawing On would soon be welcoming a new member via Health Connections Mendip. ‘The patient enjoys creativity and is keen to get out and meet people,’ says health connector Hannah Carding. ‘She may need a little creative guidance, structure and support and Gill’s group sounded appealing to her. She also wants to build in a sense of purpose to her life and joining Drawing On may help give that.’ As well as welcoming locals in, the Shepton Mallet community is in turn opening its heart to Drawing On. The group has been known to wander from the park into town during its sessions and this has resulted in group members being invited into local shops to draw and paint, which in turn helps to raise the profile of local businesses.
Drawing On also sometimes heads to community hub Create@#8 prompting off-the-cuff activities such as doing speed portraits. You get the sense, though, that Gill’s heart lies in the outdoors. The group has also stretched its wings with ‘field trips’ including to the Bishop’s Palace in Wells though it’s true essence is bound up in Collett Park, with its iconic bandstand a popular feature to capture in the artworks created. ‘The inspiration is eternal there,’ extols Gill. Drawing On runs every Tuesday from 10am, meeting at the bandstand. For more information visit the Drawing On Facebook page or visit gillsakakini.com @gillsakakini
