Kind to The Mind

In these workshops children can develop mindfulness through creative play.

The workshops centre around the natural world, focusing on connecting, learning about and noticing nature - three strands of the Five Ways to Wellbeing. The Five Ways to Wellbeing are a set of practical actions aimed at improving our mental health and wellbeing. Working mindfully helps us to live in the moment, find enjoyment in simple things and connect with other people.

Oriel Davies and arts organisation Ennyn have teamed up to create a series of workshops to spark the imagination, encouraging children to play and explore. They'll take place in the relaxed and welcoming environment of the gallery and outdoors in the beautiful parkland. In the workshops children can experiment with print, collage, painting, model making and clay.

Workshops will run in half term and over five Saturday afternoons from February until the end of March. Book for the half term workshops or a block of five Saturday workshops. For more information on dates, times and workshop content, and to book, follow the link

Ennyn was founded by Mid Wales based artists Nicky Arscott and Elin Crowley. Between them, they have 20 years experience in devising and delivering workshops for children and adults in school settings and on community projects. For these workshops Nicky and Elin are joined by artist and teacher Elinor Wigley.

About the artists:

Nicky Arscott:

Nicky is a visual artist and poet. She has worked on a range of projects, from creating a huge toilet for WaterAid to take to the EU Parliament, to installing an interactive maypole at Hay Festival as part of her artist's residency there. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas, Austin.

​She has collaborated with other poets in many different languages to create poetry comics which have been published all over the world.

​She lives in Llanbrynmair, Mid Wales with her husband and two children.

Elin Crowley:

Elin is a Printmaker who has had various jobs over her career, including working on education and online websites at the BBC, being part of a TV production team working on lifestyle programmes for S4C, and as part of a creative team at Arad Goch Theatre Company. She has now returned her focus to creating art work and providing workshops in schools and as part of community projects.

​Her experience working on 'Lead creative schools' projects funded by the Arts council of Wales has given Elin a new perspective on how creative disciplines can compliment each other, and how creative activities can absolutely contribute to children’s ability to learn core subjects in an accessible and fun way.

​She lives near Machynlleth, Mid Wales with her husband and three children.

Elinor Wigley:

I have been an art teacher, head of department/arts faculty in schools in south and mid wales for 18 years. Teaching mostly through the medium of Welsh, I am passionate about the arts in Wales and am inspired by the Welsh culture and language. I am inspired on a daily basis by the creativity and ideas of the children and young people whom I teach and I derive great satisfaction from encouraging them to express these ideas. I studied printmaking and graphic design at Aberystwyth and Cardiff. My own work is inspired by my surroundings - living on a hill farm near Machynlleth where I’m raising 4 children.