Cinderford Creative Walk Project

After the recent success of the West Dean Creative Walk Project, we were able to offer a similar experience in Cinderford, comprising of an inspiring walk in nature with a follow up art workshop AND a celebration of the work. Here’s how they got on, as described by project leader and Canopy volunteer Sara Rickard….

• Creative Walk in Nature. 18th March 2024,
  Linear Park/Ruspidge Halt

It is always a delight when, after so much rain, the weather was dry. Twelve
participants joined me in the carpark at Linear Park, Cinderford for this re-scheduled
walk.

We started from the former Ruspidge Railway station to sit on the benches which
most people miss when driving into the area. The primroses along the banks were in
full bloom. I explained about the railway which used to link Bullo Pill, on the banks of
the River Severn with Drybrook: firstly for transporting coal/iron for 50 years until
1955 as a passenger service. Noticeboards along the route are very informative.
Members of the group were asked to think about train journeys they had had and to
write a few words reflecting on this memory.

Afterwards, as we moved to the first of the lower ponds where birds were singing
loudly, members of the group were asked to walk with someone they didn’t know.
After demonstrating ways to record reflections with inks and quills, the group were
soon laughing and sharing their experiments.

With my usual bag full of creative ideas, materials to use and share, everyone was
encouraged to respond at certain times by either writing notes, poems, the start of a
story, to take photographs, or to ‘have a go’ or simply ‘be in the moment’.

Two hours passed remarkably quickly and we were soon back at the carpark when
my car boot was transformed into a café with tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits.

Everyone was given my evaluation form and asked to contribute to a larger
collaborative one. With a reminder about the workshop at The Wesley on Wednesday 10 th April 1.30 –4.00pm and the celebration on Saturday 13 th April from 3.00 – 4.30pm we all said our
good-byes and I for one look forward to meeting up again.

• 10^th April, Arts Workshop led by Sara Rickard and Roger Drury
  The Wesley, Cinderford

It was a busy afternoon aiming to develop ideas and starting points inspired by being outdoors in Nature.  Sara demonstrated the art materials available, a wide mixture of paints, crayons, inks, glues, papers etc.  The aim was to experiment with the media and have a ‘bit of fun’.  Starting points included collage using layers of text, maps, tissue paper to create a ground, use of wax resist through rubbing and washing with inks and how to make a simple monoprint.

With reference to their sketchbooks, photos taken in the forest and how other artists work, the group were then encouraged to try mixing media, or include their writing/text or adding water to blur edges, or how to mix colours etc.  Gustav Klimt and Kurt Jackson paintings were discussed.

Partway through the afternoon everyone shared their work with a ‘gallery on the floor’.  Sara explained the importance of sharing work with others in the group to reflect on ideas and to value one another’s progress.

As the 2 hours whizzed by everyone left with work to complete and materials to help them!

• 13^th April, Celebration & Display
  The Wesley, Cinderford

Members of the Cinderford Creative Walk Project showed their work to over 35 family and friends.  Some participants brought 2, 3, or 4 pieces of work to share which they had developed over the past few days!

With music by the talented ‘Go-Lightlys’ and accordion player John Slater, everyone enjoyed a social afternoon of chats, tea and cake.  One friend wanted to know who all the artists were so all those contributing wore a sticky label to identify themselves!

I gave a short presentation to thank everyone for coming to share the achievements of the walkers and to acknowledge that many in the group may never have had their work displayed like this previously.  It can be quite daunting to see work framed and displayed but also quite fulfilling, and everyone should be proud of their creativity.  Roger Drury read some of his poems inspired by walks in the local forest.  Sara invited Fiona Benson to read out the poetry on her illustrations and she really stole the show with her uplifting and amusing anecdotes behind her work.  Certainly, her research into different butterflies inspired by the butterfly reserve on the walk was particularly interesting.  Sara concluded the talk by announcing the Coleford artsFEST on Saturday 1^st June and reminding everyone to sign up to the Canopy newsletter to ensure people were kept informed of events.

The hour and a half passed incredibly quickly with many people making new friends and with one participants describing the afternoon as like ‘Speed Dating for Artists’!!

Fiona Benson shared her experience with us below

“I was very taken with the butterfly conservation area and I looked up the project that established it, made notes on the specific plants that were planted and on the 4 butterflies mentioned as being particularly attracted to those plants …

Then I looked up those butterflies and flowers on google and screenshotted images of them to be used during the arts workshop

Then I wondered if Rumi (one of my favourites) had written anything about butterflies. Indeed yes … But I also was moved to write my own version of his Poem of the Butterflies.

And then I looked up loads of stuff about the interrelationship between butterflies, flowers and ultraviolet light (I’m rather a nerd)

And then I put it all together in a painted triptych hahahaha! The painting is a bit literal for me (I prefer more abstract), but I kind of like the overall effect.

Participants testimonials at Cinderford Celebration – 13^th April 2024

“A wonderful creative walk and follow up Arts workshop was great experience.  Would love to do another.”

“I had a fabulous time on this Creative Journey – would love to do it again.  Some amazing people.”

“It’s hard to put into words how inspirational the art walks and workshops are but suffice to say you end up producing something you never thought yourself capable of!”

“Lovely to meet the next generation of Canopy walk artists and enjoyed talking with them and seeing their inspiring work.”

“As a participant it was absolutely wonderful to go on one walk and be inspired.  To then have the opportunity to meet up again, make art and new friends was a bonus.”

“We probably don’t say we are artists we don’t call ourself an artist collective, Canopy gives us a voice.”

“A fantastic event bringing people together and sharing their creativity.  More creative walks please!”

“A wonderful mix of different types of art and the poetry is certainly deep – keep going!”

“Truly inspiring!  I can’t wait to join you on the next walk.”

“Thanks for an amazing walk, great workshop and lovely meeting up again.  A wonderful creative ‘package’.”