I’m always open to working with whatever materials suit the needs of my workshop participants, and I work in a person-centred way. I am very passionate about the integrating the NHS’ ‘five ways to well-being’ and have found it can be a positive framework and a guiding tool when delivering art and wellbeing workshops. This is because I believe that a focus on creativity and wellbeing can result in multiple benefits, bringing about a better quality of life whilst simultaneously instigating a positive, ripple effect on the wellbeing of our wider community. I engage in many well-being practices myself in addition, including mindfulness, being outdoors in nature, journaling, landscape photography, and exploring themes of place, identity, and heritage.  

In this exhibit, I sought to create a collection of items that capture conversations, images and stories from the local people and visitors to Pontypridd and the surrounding areas. These are curated at the entrance to the Museum in the form of a faux Pontypridd Tourism Shop. All the items on display were made to describe particular places in Pontypridd, will the aim of encouraging the public to ‘take notice’ of what's around them and our connection to this town. Having a sense of belonging gives a person a greater sense of meaning and purpose and has a positive impact on a person's wellbeing. As an emerging artist myself, on a continuous journey of learning about my own sense of place, belonging and heritage, I have felt the positive benefits for my own well-being. 

The ‘shop items’ are made using a range of techniques, such as lino printing, felting, paper craft, acrylic painting, clay work and working with sound. In addition, I have used both natural materials, such as pebbles foraged from the river banks of Pontypridd and charity shop treasure. It’s a natural part of my creative practice and identity to use these items as vehicles for telling ‘our stories’, our heritage and sense of place. Stories that inform this exhibit were collected from local people, students at the University of South Wales in Treforest, Pontypridd’s Historical Society, various Pontypridd-centric social media groups and research from sources such as radio interviews. 

Pontypridd Museum's own gift shop has not opened since the flooding in 2020, and so we decided to use this opportunity to provide the entrance to the Museum with a little colour and something to brighten visitors’ days. I hope, through capturing some authentic Pontypridd voices through the exhibit that I’ve created a welcoming display that both celebrates this town and provides points for the public to connect, take notice and enhance their sense of wellbeing.

I would like to thank Pontypridd Museum for their support and providing a perfect home for the work for the duration of the Art Trail.