What’s In This Post?
First Morning of the Clwydian Creatives Art Trail
I woke up early to the sound of rain hitting the window with a mixture of excitement and dread — would everything go to plan, would I have enough energy for the day, what would I forget? I knew the weather could be an obstacle to people visiting, but decided what was meant to be would be for my first day on the Clwydian Creatives art trail.
A Rainy but Creative Day in Flintshire
We arrived at Greenfield Valley and set up in the old school building. The lights were already on when we got there, providing a warm welcome to the day ahead. We set up tables for my demo, artistic process, “test yourself” games, a “have a go” art collab, and art for sale. Despite being quite a large room for one artist, our set-up felt welcoming and cosy.
One good thing about the rain was making every conversation matter, so despite having fewer visitors, there was the spark of creativity in the air. It really did feel like a rainy but creative day at a Flintshire art trail.
Conversations with Artists on the Clwydian Creatives Trail
Few visitors or not, each one was lovely, showing a keen interest in the art and taking part in the activities I had made. This really made the day worthwhile. I had several comments about how colourful my art is, which made me smile.
One gentleman explained his recent journey into art via a foundation course that had focused more on abstract art than the expected classic styles. He shared the interest this had given him in modern mixed media approaches. I was fascinated and shared my enthusiasm. Another lady showed me some wonderful photos of art she had made of her dog — also very colourful!
For me, these conversations with artists on the Clwydian Creatives trail were as valuable as any sale.
The Collaborative Art Project – Abbey’s Echoes
I have to say I was surprised at what a big hit this was. The activity involved visitors completing some frottage (rubbing over an item with pencil to collect its texture on a piece of paper or other support) using laminated flowers from the valley. They then chose a quote I had printed and had a photo taken to add to a scroll I had made. The scroll will be presented to the valley in thanks for inviting me to be Artist in Residence for the two days of the trail.
I found that people who took part greatly enjoyed it and several told me what fun it was. Projects like this remind me how important collaborative art projects at Basingwerk Abbey can be in connecting people with both place and creativity.
If you’re reading this, then hopefully it will be in time for you to also join in on the 27th of September 2025.
Small Joys – Cards & Creativity
I was super pleased to sell a good number of my handmade art cards. Buying a card by an artist is such a fabulous way of enjoying, sharing, and even promoting their work. It is so rewarding as an artist to find people are supportive in this way.
These small wins help keep momentum going for me and also can indicate which art people like best. I love that selling handmade cards in Flintshire art events lets me connect with people in a simple, accessible way.
Reflections on Community & Creativity
It was a wonderful day and such a joy to be part of something bigger than my own practice, i.e. the Clwydian Creatives art trail. Seeing people enjoying the activities I provided was very rewarding and helped me see my role as an artist in a bigger way — part of supporting creativity in Flintshire communities and sharing the experience of discovering local art and creativity in Flintshire.
Closing Thoughts
I want to say a huge thank you to all those people who braved the weather and visited my little studio. It was so nice talking to you and getting to know a bit about how you enjoy art.
I am looking forward to next weekend with the hope that I may see some of you again — and maybe a few new faces too — as I encourage everybody to visit if you are in the area.
