The Community Art Studio is a CIC creative space in the heart of Forest Row dedicated to using art as a tool for connection, wellbeing, and community growth.
Our project brings people of all ages together through inclusive art courses, a welcoming Sketchbook Café, and Community Art Days that invite the whole village to create side by side. By offering low-cost and accessible opportunities, we aim to reduce social isolation, improve mental wellbeing, and strengthen local relationships through the shared joy of making art.
The project will culminate in a community exhibition celebrating the artwork created and exploring the positive role creativity plays in rural village life. We are also gathering feedback and stories from participants to understand the social impact of creative spaces in small communities.
The Community Art Studio is supported by local partners who share our vision of a more connected, creative, and caring community. Together, we’re proving that when people make art together, they make stronger communities too.
Community Art Days
See our pilot session for Community Art Day. An event open to everyone, we invite the village to create together. All ages painting together, and connecting through the power of painting! We put a bit piece of canvas on the wall of the studio and invited people to grab a brush and jump in. We were surprised how many people showed up, and how much everyone really focused on the painting. All ages painting together is a special thing. We hope to do this over a number of months, and then celebrate all the creativity with an exhibit of them all. Alongside that we will collect people stories, and their experiences to see how community art benefits small villages.
Sketchbook Cafe
The Sketchbook Café is a welcoming creative space designed to bring people together through art, conversation, and community. Visitors are invited to enjoy a relaxed environment where they can sketch, paint, or simply connect over coffee. By offering accessible materials and an inclusive atmosphere, the café encourages creativity as a form of wellbeing — fostering connection, confidence, and inspiration for all who take part.
Weekly art groups
By offering weekly art groups; one as an after school kids studio to encourage creative freedom in our children; one group aimed at 60+ and one group aimed at pregnant women to create an art journal documenting and supporting perinantal mental health: we hope to tackle social isolation, create community and encourage more art making! Life Drawing has been highly requested from the local village which we will also aim to offer.
Pilot sessions for our Kids Art Studio
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OUR ARTISTS
Our Team of Artists
Sinead Holly Woodnutt
Professional visual artist working intuitively on big canvases. Her creative process is a conversation with the unconscious — bold, expressive, and deeply connected to the human experience. Sinead has had solo and group exhibitions in the UK, Netherlands and Ireland.
Caroline Birch
Visual mixed media artist, primarialy working with paint and collage. Her professional backfround has led her to gain extensive experience of working with the elderly,
Christopher Antoniou
Professional artist aiming to uplift and inspire with his work. He has been doing character work for both advertising, TV and film for past 22 years. Currently working at MPC, and teaching at various Universities.