The Urban Arts Studio on St Annes Road West has recently opened its doors on an array of abstract and classical paintings all made by people who found solace in creativity.
Curator Boz Phillips, of the Last Legs Community Arts organisation, said: “I was offered the opportunity to use the walls as a space to put up community artwork to promote local artists, professional and non-professional. It’s really just trying to give artists and local creatives somewhere to exhibit their art which they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to do.
“It’s therapeutic as well – ‘art is for health’ is our slant on it. We are a community arts organisation, so its a good space for us to use. New arts show at Urban Arts Studio in St Annes.
Pictured are artists Robert Haworth, Boz Phillips, Diane Duxbury with manager James Hunter.
“It benefits people, it helps their self esteem. To get people into a creative mindset can often be a distraction from other things that are going on in their lives. It really does help community come together. It’s something that is overlooked a lot, but it’s a really good way of helping people look at life a bit more positively.
“Then there’s the opportunity for people to sell their art, which most non-professional artists wouldn’t be able to do.”
The show, which features paintings from Robert Haworth, Leah Payne, Diane Duxbury and Andrew Greenwood, can be viewed on Thursdays and Fridays.
Diane, 63, a graffiti and abstract artist, was approached by Boz to take part in the show after rediscovering her love of painting while recovering from a back operation.
New arts show at Urban Arts Studio in St Annes. Pictured is Robert Haworth.
She said: “I’ve always loved art. I did it at school and was always interested, but I thought I was never very good at drawing people or landscapes. It was only when I had a bit of time on my hands off work that I started messing about with the paints really – the bigger the better.
“The Urban Arts Studio is trying to promote different people, which I think is brilliant. There’s not many people around here who do it.”
New arts show at Urban Arts Studio in St Annes. Pictured is Boz Phillips.
New arts show at Urban Arts Studio in St Annes. Pictured is Diane Duxbury.
Currently offering exhibition space on walls at this amazing music, performance and art space in the heart of St Annes on the Fylde coast.
We are interested to hear from local artists professional and non professional who are interested in having a chance to show work here or run workshops and events.
Collage with printed element Boz Phillips
The venue is a bookable community arts space and has already held several music and jam nights while hosting the art works of local artists including members of Last Legs arts organisation, since the end of covid restrictions last year.
Acrylic on canvas Diane Duxbury
The aim of the venue is to support local and up and coming artists, musicians and performers of all kinds by offering a platform for new and exiting work
In this blog we have also included competition entries .
After what seemed like the longest time ….. we are now back working on the amazing mosaic, at Mary Smith House with Revoe residents. We will be there for the next 3 sessions on Tuesdays between 5-7pm.
The mosaic is now finished and will be attached to a prominent wall in Revoe. We will upload photos when we can take a photo.
We are making really good progress now thanks to last weeks work continuingBarbara working on the mosaic
A big thanks to everyone who came this evening to work on the mosaic
top half of the mosaic in progressBottom half of the mosaic
This month have also been working with some young children and their families
Thanks to our grant from BCH Tenants fund we continue to engage with people and families most in need of creative activities across Blackpool.
painting and drawing todaydinosaurfunny face6ft art piecemask making todaymiss meowfamily workshopprincess sock puppet making princess
This month we have also been working with a group of young people who we hope to be creating a large scale mural with later this year. The group are keen to get involved in graffiti art work and this evening we tested their skills.
Some great work made this eveningThe sun was very bright and hot today but the work made was fabulous. Thank you everyone who took partand ….one for the cat lovers working on a poem and logoworking on a handmade book
In June we had our first competition entry from Jean Scott who lives in Revoe.
A great start to the competition.
We are looking forward to working with people face to face again this month.
Using the art packs and the Makezine as inspiration for people to get creative and send entries in to our competition.
Great session this evening in Blackpool with a group of young people.
Chloe’s Collaboration
Chloe’s sitting in the yard,
Making art, it’s not so hard
Sat there making an art book
Filling each page just to see how it looks
Creating stuff just to fill the time
While I sit here writing a rhyme
It seems like the perfect situation
To create this little collaboration
Chloe’s collage our 2nd art competition entrydrawing in the sketchbooks: provided for art journals – part of the art packs
As we work on the project we update the web site with information on a regular basis.
We are currently working on the Make zine, art resource that will be available to all our project participants past present and future.
The Last legs Make Art Zine is currently available online via the link on the previous post while we are in the early stages of development.
We are producing a ‘hard’ copy of this publication that can be included in the art packs we are also currently putting together for members of the community most in need of creative support in the Blackpool and Fylde areas.
We draw our inspiration from working with others and believe that a creative community is a healthy community.
We had ‘two young ladies who really benefited from the art packs during lock down, they both live with anxiety and depression and find art lets them express themselves and lets them take their mind of things for a while, they use the art packs and other supplies on a regular basis and found them really helpful.’
We included small canvases, a box of paint and brush in the art packs
We will soon be working face to face with participants once again and are exited to get going on new activities using the art packs and ‘Makezine’ to help facilitate creative workshops
Now in September we are still monitoring the situation to enable us to get back to what we love doing most which is working with the community, supporting creativity across the Fylde Coast and beyond.
We are currently discussing how to safely continue our working practise while maintaining safety for our participants. It is tough times for our organisation as most of our participants do not have access to digital media platforms and our work is all about inclusive, face to face participatory arts activities. We hope to be back to it soon.
Art work made in March 2020 with participants
for a local hostel. Requested by staff.
Update April 2020
After an email from one of our partner organisation we decided to make up ‘art packs’ for the people we have been working with as part of recent project/s. The participants of our recent projects have become even more isolated due to the current situation and we feel we must do something positive to support them while stuck indoors with very little social interaction or artistic intervention.
We would like you to use the provided sketchbooks to create art works, poems, thoughts, ideas – if possible one a day on a page or using a double page.
We thought these could be photographed or scanned when your ‘diary/ sketchbook’ is complete so that we can make an online or physical exhibition of your work that could inspire other people who may be in a similar situation to create art works as well.
Let your imaginations run wild. You can write or draw anything
For instance you could tear up this letter and rearrange the words to create a poem.
We hope to be working with you again face to face once the situation improves for everyone.
Boz and Lee April 23rd 2020
We are currently making up more packs and would like to thank particularly Mike Mckone and others who have recently donated pens, paper and materials towards the art packs.
I would also like to thank Jean and the Granthams Art Discount team for sorting out the sketchbook orders so quickly.
Thank You! YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Dear all early March 2020
As individuals and as an organisation we take our responsibility to the health and well being of our participants and partnership organisation seriously.
Due to the current situation with regards the Coronavirus we have taken the difficult decision to suspend all our creative activities until further notice.
We apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment this will cause to yourselves and to our participants. We feel this is a necessary precaution to undertake due to the numbers of groups and individuals across the Fylde Coast that we work with. Many of our participants are already ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’ residents and community members; therefore we wish to protect them and ourselves from any possible chance of infection or risk of infection.
We were looking forward to taking our recent activities forward in support of positive community engagement however this current crisis has put these creative sessions on hold for the time being.
Last Legs – Boz and Lee wish you all the best and hope that we can continue to work with you all again in the very near future.
Thank you for all your support and understanding
Boz and Lee
Art work below made in March by family member just prior to the current ‘lockdown’ situation.
Earlier this year
In 2020 we have already facilitated 10 workshops with the community and received notice that Glasdon have agreed to support us with funding to enable us to carry out at least one more workshop.
The artist who created the canvas above requested to have the address for suicide prevention services included here
Papyrus – for people under 35 Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm Text 07786 209697 Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19 Call 0800 1111 – the number won’t show up on your phone bill, 24/7
The Silver Line – for older people Call 0800 4 70 80 90 – 24/7
We would like to acknowledge our most recent grant funding from the ‘Edith Mary Clark Foundation’, and thank the trustees for awarding us £500 to continue our creative activities with local people and families on the Fylde coast.
We now envisage some of this funding to be utilised for creating art packs for families currently isolated due to the current situation.
We feel privileged to work with our community and are enabled to do so through generous funding from local organisations.
We also continue with our project ‘Upwards and Outwards’ funded by Blackpool Coastal Housing: BCH
On March 2nd we began our creative sessions with families living at a Central Blackpool location. Sessions will be held at the New Life Church, 6 Queen Victoria Rd, Blackpool. These ‘face to face’ workshops are currently ‘on hold’ due to the current situation.
In around two weeks we hope to start back working on the large mosaic, working with local, Revoe and Central Blackpool residents again, thanks to previous funding from the community chest, Revoe-lution funding.
Life.
Life may be tough
Things will get rough
There will be bad days and good
but if the bad days are too much
Please don’t give up
Always stand tall
Always hold your head up high
because as long as you keep moving
there will be no more goodbyes
keep moving
keep fighting
one win at a time.
Poem by G. Dunn 2020
We would like to thank Tracy – ‘Lytham Community Network’ for her recent generous donation of arts materials that will continue to help us offer free materials to participants during our workshops.
Last Legs will be working with local families by offering creative activities free to people experiencing financial hardships due to complex personal circumstances, thanks to our recent funding received from Edith Mary Clark Foundation
As always we seek to work with individuals and groups who often miss out on creative opportunities .
Young people spray painting their design on to the wall
Poem being written in to the art work above
Update 2023
Casey’s poem is about to travel on to a new home in Bispham
Onward and Upward continued
We are thrilled to announce that BCH are funding Last Legs for a further 24 creative sessions ‘Onwards and Outwards’ . We would like to thank BCH and the grant award committee for once again supporting members of our community who are often excluded from engaging in creative activities, due to lack of funds or personal circumstance.
All our participants leave workshop sessions with art works for their rooms, new homes, or friends and family. The experience of creating an art work from scratch often inspires individuals to continue with their new found skills once they move to a new home.
Below are art works by more community members on the Onward and Upward project
Tangerine Tower
Space painting by community member on project Onward and Upwards
‘Onward and Upwards’
Canvas below spray painted by Gail.
Liverpool stencil on canvas
made by Gail spray painted canvas
We are also delighted that
Blackpool Coastal Housing
are continuing to fund our creative activities and art project ‘Onward and Upwards’ .
Art work created by young people in communal dining area
Art work below created during the project
Art works by young people
‘Worlds’ spray painted triptych on recycled cardboard
We are now continuing with a similar project ‘Onward and Outwards’.
‘I’m framing this one for the bathroom’
‘I’ve tried saying I don’t do art, but the evidence is here’
‘I’m really pleased, I cant even do stick drawings’
below – spray painted jigsaw
‘This is something to really look forward too, its so boring looking at 4 walls, when your in your room with nothing to do, this is something really positive’.
Below the Art work ‘Onward and Upwards’ now installed at the hostel in main staircase: created last year over a number of sessions with local residents.
‘That art work is amazing, it’s the first thing I saw when I arrived here, it’s great I’m really impressed.’
‘I’m buzzing .. this is what I should be doing, it could help sort myself out and stay focused’
I’m really in to art….I used to do arty stuff with the kids when I worked as a nursery assistant .. it was my favourite thing to do with them’.
‘…just passing through’
St Annes-On-Sea art group
We recently worked with an arts for health group in St Annes.
community art outside St Annes
Stencils and spray paint in St Annes. Arts for Health group
Creative Principle Harris Art Event November 2nd 2019
On November 2nd 2019, Boz was selling artworks made using recycled materials @ The Harris Preston Lancashire.
hand made bird recycled materials
The fair showcased local artists who specialise in using recycled materials in their work.
Project working with Horizon ‘Art of Recovery’ group and Grange Park residents 2018-2019
This year we have presented ‘The Grange’ Blackpool with two art works created in collaboration with the Grange Park community and members of the ‘Art of Recovery’ group. The art works include photos of over 70 individuals from the Grange Park area and from the Art of Recovery groups . Community members from Grange Park and people from the recovery community allowed us to take photographs to add to the final piece. We also received a number of super photographic images for inclusion, taken by Donna Hannigan. The ‘Freedom Clock’ art work is now complete and up on the wall, next to the poem art work.
People trying to find themselves on the clock
Freedom Clock Poem by art group member
‘Life is like one big clock Keep on thinking happy thoughts Tick tock: tick tock’.
Our last art work made in to a postcard that went out to Grange Park residents
for including us in this beautiful catalogue commemorating the ‘Marking the Martyrs’ parade last year. We participated in the celebration of ‘Votes for Women’ along with our friends the Revoe-lution choir.
Going forward further in to 2019 we continue to work with Horizon Blackpool, Blackpool Gorton St , the Revoe and Central community, Urban Arts Studio St Annes, and the Grange – Grange Park community.
After collecting tiles from Kass at ‘Al Murad’ Blackpool and spotting a small hoard ready for the skip at another shop, we had a ‘trial run’ of using the pieces that Mr Dee spent 3 days cutting up.
The Hand Made Un’s Art Club have now started the work after securing a small pot of funding for materials earlier this year, thanks to Pippa Martin. We are applying for further funding to work with more of the community throughout 2018 to produce some smaller mosaics to be installed outdoors in the Revoe area.
The Blackpool Gazette came this week to take photographs for a feature on the project and the club. Thank you to Dan and Julia from the Gazette.
Lee’s drawing up on the backer board ready to add tiles.
Keep watching the blog for updates.
Margaret tried out a windmill design, while Andy ‘supervised’.
Anita tried out a house design.
Barbara worked on her King Edward Picture House design. The location of the finished mosaic will be on the side the George pub that is also included in the mosaic.
work delivered to Grange Park today 4th January 2019
Our last artwork for 2018 completed in December 2018 for ‘The Grange’ working in collaboration with the local community and the art of recovery community art group . on behalf of Horizon Blackpool.
Thank you to everyone who participated and a Happy New Year.
We are currently working with people in Blackpool as part of our Art Buddies Project.
The project aims to support people who may be socially isolated to get involved creatively in their communities. We take creative activities to people who may not have the opportunity to get involved with the arts due to personal circumstance or ill health. The project is funded by BCH.
In November we began work with the art group at the Grange, Grange Park to produce a bespoke artwork that reflects the memories and images of people of Grange Park. We are working with the group for 6 weeks until 14th December.
We were at Highfield Park today creating art works for the park with the community and Friends of Highfield Park volunteers.
We have been spray painting these portraits on the Recovery Tram: working with Blackpool Horizon Art Club to produce stencil based art work using photographs of participants.
We also worked with the group to produce spray paint designs on the Horizon tram ready for the pride walk 12th June 2018.
In May we volunteered at the stone carving workshops in St Annes, organised by St Annes in Bloom.
Mr Dee working with one young participant to make his mark on the stone
Anthony Lysycia the stone carver at work on one of the stone pieces.
With the community in Revoe and the Art Club Hand Made Un’s we created two new poster for the front of the King Edward Cinema. Project commissioned by Blackpools’ Healthy Living and Creative Design Officer.
Revoe Community Choir participated in the ‘Marking the Martyrs’ parade on Saturday 2nd June.
Banner made with ‘Hand Made Un’s’ art club and Boz Phillips.
Supporting Blackpools’ longest established artists group: Blott Artist Studio.
With the Hand Made Un’s and community members in the Central and Revoe area we are creating a community mosaic. The mosaic will be installed on the empty spaces along the George Hotel on Central Drive visible to the wider community.
Work started in May after 2 days of sorting and cutting tiles
We received a very generous donation of tiles from Al-Murad Tiles Blackpool branch. Thanks to artist Kass –
for sourcing these end of line tiles for our mosaic.
Hand Made Un’s art works on plates dishes, cups and saucers, will be for sale on 18th August at Revoe Fun Day.
items such as these beautiful Blackpool themed plates are now available prices start at £3: half the money will go to the community center the other half to the lifeboats.
On Saturday August 18th
We will be running a workshop for children customising bandannas at the Fun Day.
We are currently working with Shabby2Chic and the wonderful Sandra, in Knott End. An exiting opportunity to be involved with the Wise Owls project in a fantastic new venue for exhibiting and selling began this week. We will be in Knott End at the studio every Monday.
In January we will be continued with the successful ‘Art Buddies’ in a new Blackpool location – Marton . The first leaflets have now been distributed to people in sheltered housing in Marton. The project is funded by Blackpool Coastal Housing.
In February we exhibited a selection of our work at Urban Arts Studio St Annes.
In August Boz Phillips and Lee Fitzgerald worked with people accessing the services of Horizon Blackpool to curate a series of their art works and poetry to be included on the tram.
The art work produced by individuals was on display as a series of vinyls designed by Boz and Lee using all art works by ‘Art of Recovery’ members on the side of Blackpool Heritage 641 Centenary tram.
M ‘So for me this project has come at a vital time in my recovery … I got into art a few months ago having having been introduced to it’s therapeutic values in the psychiatric ward around 7 months ago …
The warm welcome has been great and for me it’s all about the creative wonderful people I have met and will continually meet in the Freedom Building. A special thanks to Carole, The massive amount of encouragement from Boz and Lee (thank you Lee for all our chats you have really inspired me). Thank you Faron for a few days painting I would definitely work for you again.
I would definitely be interested in any future art projects’
E ‘It’s great how much this has helped you guys.
Boz and Lee should certainly work helping in recovery. I think they’re great people. You feel no judgement from them, only kindness and encouragement. Very opening and welcoming people. ‘
Extract from Horizon Press release.
“As well as displaying artwork created as part of the recovery journey, the tram site will also act as an information point for people looking to access help with their addiction issues. We want to spread the word that recovery is possible for the majority of people who seek help.”
‘The project was officially launched on 8th September as part of the FAVOR UK Recovery Walk celebrations which will be taking place in Blackpool over the weekend. A national recovery conference is planned for Friday the 8th September and the annual FAVOR UK Recovery Walk will take place on Saturday 9th September; the largest gathering of people in recovery in Europe with an estimated 5000 people expected to join in the celebrations in Blackpool town centre.’
The static tram with the art could be viewed at Blackpool, South Promenade, in front of the Sandcastle. The tram with art works has now moved back to Fleetwood for storage as of 26th June 2019.
Rob 2019
‘Yeah it,s going but…………………………….what that means to me. I first saw it when Carole showed it to me. As an addict, that was an amazing thing to see. I’ve been down there when I have felt a bit low. I’ve not told anyone but Feb/Mar/Apr time, on a Sunday, I’d cycle down there. I was struggling. I cycled back totally under control. I got pics, I will never forget that tram.’
The ‘Art Of Recovery’ group, set up by the project participants still runs on a Wednesdays evenings and Saturdays at the Freedom Building
If you require any further information about the project or the services mentioned above please contact them directly.
last legs community arts health 