Make Art Issue #2

Make Art Issue #2: 2026

Contents Introduction About Outside In The people The artworks AiNo Ana Christmas Andrea Sayers Angela / Flo Anita McNamee Ann Pitkin Anna Mills

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Anni Axworthy ArtValeria Auds Belinda Read Bridget Cotter Charity Thistleton Christian Corinne Dara Addams David Puttick Eden Brackenbury

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Front cover image: Relish the Whimsy, Roseanne Powell

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Edgington Elisabetta Noto Emma Major Eva Russo Ian Sherman Josie Kirsten Roberts Luc(e) Raesmith Lucy McLellan Mengxia Shi

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Paige Lyons Phoenix Preeti Rachy Tee Roseanne Powell Sam Taylor Sarah Crowley Stuartist Vivian Tsang Wendy Jane Paterson

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Introduction Make Art is a community of art groups across the UK, organised by Outside In. They are artist-led and provide a space each month for artists to connect and make their work together. Currently, there are groups in Manchester, Brighton, Doncaster, Bournemouth and an online group. Further groups in different locations are planned for 2026.

‘The positive energy that fills the space is inspirational, which is often the catalyst that drives the artists on journeys of creative exploration and discovery.’ Stuart Milburn, Make Art Ambassador Bournemouth

A total of 981 artists has come to Make Art since the first session in May 2023. There have been 115 sessions - that’s 187 hours of making and conversation!

This zine is a celebration and showcase of art made by Make Art artists from across the country. Each group has its own identity, shaped by the unique creative approaches brought by the artists who come each month.

Some might be at the outset of their artistic practice, working alongside others who are more established in their careers.

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Skills, ideas and mutual support are shared at every session.

Molly Bretton, Director of Outside In says: ‘Making art is often a solitary endeavour, which can lead to feelings of isolation for many creators. Make Art provides a powerful antidote by welcoming artists to meet and make work alongside others.

These groups provide the space and supportive community to bridge the gap for those facing barriers to the art world due health, disability, and socio-economic circumstance. We are hugely grateful to National Lottery Awards for All funding, which helped to establish this project, and to the generous support of Arts Council England, our Patrons and donors who have ensured this programme continues to thrive.’

Come to a Make Art group!

Visit outsidein.org.uk/event-listings beth.hopkins@outsidein.org.uk 07931 516038

‘Make Art is a space where I have an invaluable opportunity, every month, to make art in a supportive and inspiring environment, where I feel encouraged to exchange ideas, develop projects, and feel part of a vibrant community of local artists.’ Elisabetta, Make Art artist

Thank you to all the artists who contributed their work to this zine, and all the Make Art Ambassadors for the energy and care they dedicate to their groups each month. With thanks also to our venues for hosting the groups: the Whitworth, Stockroom, the Old School House Boscombe, Fabrica and C-View.

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About Outside In Outside In is an award-winning national charity supporting artists who face significant barriers to the arts for reasons of health, disability, isolation and socio-economic circumstance. Our vision is to celebrate the diversity of talent from artists outside of the mainstream, leading to the creation of a fairer art world.

Outside In seeks to address this imbalance by showcasing the work of artists who would be otherwise excluded and providing much needed access to development opportunities. Since 2006, Outside In has successfully engaged more than 5,000 artists facing barriers to the mainstream art world.

Contact us about training, exhibition and artist development opportunities: info@outsidein.org.uk 07311 922602 Outside In, PO Box 5571, Brighton, BN50 8UR

Make Art: Bournemouth, Stuart Milburn

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Meet the people who Make Art happen Introducing the artists who lead the Make Art Groups

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Make Art: Online I love sharing a virtual space once a month with this wonderful community of artists. Over the last few months many artists have made Postcards. Bringing their works together in this Zine feels particularly meaningful, as unlike the other Make Art groups many of us have never met in person. Our virtual community is spread across the UK (and sometimes beyond). I myself am unable to leave home and like to think our art can travel places we cannot and bringing our postcard's together in this Zine truly unites us.

Corinne (they/them)

Myself and Josh fellow Make Art Online Ambassador are privileged to work alongside such talented artists, who have made Make Art Online into the beautiful community it is.

Corinne

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Josh Edington (he/him)

Make Art Online is a place where artists, no matter their location, can come together to make art, listen to each other, learn from each other or just be in the company of other artists for an hour.

Each month we have an optional activity based either around a theme or a technique. There is a wonderful mix of well established groups members alongside new attendees each month, so the group always feels like it is evolving. Make Art Online artists were recently invited to make work on a postcard to put together in an online zine. I always leave each group having learnt new ideas about ways of making art and ideas for making art, I find it an incredibly inspiring space each month.

Josh

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Make Art: Manchester

Valeria Leonova (she/her)

The Manchester Make Art group is a relaxed social group where artists come to create work in a communal setting.

People usually bring their existing projects, and use the space for chatting, networking, and body doubling. Sometimes we will have communal projects, which members can choose to work on, such as this postcard zine. I have enjoyed seeing the wide variety of postcards from different members. The group is meaningful to me as a space where people can come together, and make time for themselves and their art, in an otherwise very busy world, and meet other artists.

Dara

Dara Addams (he/him) 10

Make Art: Brighton

Eden Brackenbury (they/them)

It’s funny how ideas can flit and flutter on the breeze. Some land tentatively, while others drift away. Being part of the Make Art family has helped ground those flights of fancy into something tangible, alongside artists who love experimenting and sharing new approaches. Our community feels like part of a wider creative ecosystem, where each artist brings something unique.

The postcard idea grew out of a check-in game I used to run as a mentor, long before everything moved online. It’s been wonderful to see that little exercise take on a new life here. I’m glad to play a role within the group tending, supporting and helping things grow.

James Shreeve (they/them)

James

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Make Art: Brighton, by James Shreeve

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Make Art: Bournemouth Make Art Bournemouth was established in May 2023 and has continued to evolve into a unique and supportive community art space.

A place where artists come together to socialize, interact, collaborate, learn, share skills, and experience the freedom to develop their individual and unique art practices without judgement or adverse criticism.

Stuart Milburn (he/him)

As Make Art Bournemouth’s ambassador, I am consistently amazed by the progressive artwork produced by the artists. The positive energy that fills the space is inspirational, which is often the catalyst that drives the artists on journeys of creative exploration and discovery, and with such amazing visual interpretations!

Stuart

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Make Art: Doncaster Make Art Doncaster launched in September 2024 We now have a core group who meet regularly while new artists continue to discover Outside In and drop-in to share a session or two with us. We chat and make art over a brew, well it wouldn’t be Yorkshire without one.

Paige Lyons (they/them)

We are moved by the respect and kindness artists show each other, sharing skills and their art with enthusiasm and encouragement.

Doncaster is often overlooked, its communities facing many challenges, however It has a rich history and is the 'ground' from which our amazing Artists rise.

Angela Chudley (she/her)

We hope Make Art and all our artists continue to thrive. It is an honour to walk with them.

Angela

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Introducing the Artworks The following postcards were made at Make Art groups across the country between 2025 and 2026

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‘Untitled’ Birds are magical, near to our everyday lives and at the same time far and unreachable. I love watching their flight patterns, flocks and murmurations.

Aino Leskinen

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‘Untitled’ Ana Christmas

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'First Tree of the Year' This little cherry tree sits right outside the back door of my sunroom where I do a lot of my drawing, so he is my constant companion. Last summer he grew cherries for the very first time which was very exciting!

Andrea Sayers

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‘Hats’ Metaphorical or real denote our roles Artist Mother Partner Friend Colleague Carer...

Some Heavy Some neither keeping out the rain or sun Too tight worn out or Piled so high we cant see where we are going or who we really are....

How many hats do you wear?

Angela / Flo

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‘Cat Photo’ I love cats and my cat Charlie stares at me for a while and then decides to lick his bottom! So I thought it would be funny to do a cartoonish picture of this. I have darkened his eyes a bit too much but I decided he wanted to wear eyeliner for the photo shoot! I have used water colour and pens for the picture.

Anita McNamee

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‘Sable’ Sable is my dog. She is eleven years old and a long-haired Chihuahua. Sable is named after my paint brushes.

Ann Pitkin

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’It’s by the lighthouse’ I love having a sauna and dipping into the sea.

People often ask where it is and I tell them it's by the lighthouse. I was happy when I realised I could take a photo from the water to include both the sauna and the lighthouse Anna Mills

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‘Head’ Anni Axworthy

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‘Untitled’ ArtValeria

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‘Beautiful leafs’ I love leafs and they can be any colour. I can’t do watercolours anymore because I can only use one hand. So I use felt tip pens.

Auds

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‘Holiday - I was there’ A guitarist plays to the sea while collapse gathers behind him.

The holiday continues as bodies struggle, boats splinter, and violence passes unnoticed along the promenade. This seascape is not about disaster, but about attention—about what we choose to see, and what we accept as background noise when comfort is preserved Belinda Read

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‘Entropy’ I do art primarily as a way to deal with mental health issues. As both a form of emotional expression and a mindful activity making art aids well-being. I tend to start from the process and see what comes up. The end result may or may not take a sensible form, but it is always surprising. I particularly love art that uses existing materials as it suits the ecological ethos I value.

Bridget Cotter 27

‘Untitled’ Charity Thistleton

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‘Postcards by Christian’ I really like the colours Christian

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‘Daisy’ I’m a disabled, selfportrait artist making work from my 2 by 1.5 metre artist studio space, my bed. Central to my practice is Daisy, my childhood imaginary friend, whose comforting presence is symbolised through my frequent inclusion of daisy flowers within my art.

Corinne

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‘Ring-necked Parakeet’ Dara Addams

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Above: ’Untitled’ Right: ‘Untitled’ Making sense of random, working unconscious.

David Puttick

the with

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‘OUCH’ ‘OUCH" is a sort of mantra for me at the moment as I notice where I need boundaries and what my access needs are in the light of having been diagnosed with autism in 2025.

Eden Brackenbury

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‘Self Portraits’ Postcards a small message to be sent to someone and this made me want to find a way of giving an overview of my work somehow. I used a mini thermal printer that prints images and text almost like a receipt and often quite faded in black. I thought I could also hint at some written information too. There was no particular reason for using the staples but I like the effect it has given.

Edgington

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‘Upside down, downside up’ Elisabetta Noto

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‘In Pain’ Pain is a matter of fact but Immeasurable Even when understood Unjustifiable Despite endless endeavours Unquantifiable On any single day Variable As seasons change Unstable Researchers conclude it's Paradoxical Experienced by all yet Uninterpretable Physical but really Neurological We all agree it's Reprehensible Emma Major

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‘ICU’ Invisible faces hover wordlessly Tender in their watch Near then far away

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Unseen hands cradle my fragility Delicate in their touch Nudges outside time A soft touch pulses hope I sense a faith unspoken A promise whispered silently Though they are faceless Their care is warmth wrapped tight Holding my fraying seams together I voyaged beyond my fragile frame Forever grateful For hands I didn't always see Emma Major

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‘Observations’ The force roams the body seeking emancipation in original form Irreversible traction. Creates and destroys I build channels, bridges, tunnels for the passion It is my bestial essence finding its unbridled and graceful step. A youthful leap Passion sweeps past the predictable.

The improvisers. The critics Because only the passionate can face the visceral language whose sole purpose is to create.

Eva Russo 38

Above: ‘Low tide and rocks’ Right: ‘The dentist’s chair’ I like the simplicity of small card pencil Ian Sherman

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‘Figure’ I was experimenting with different surfaces for painting. A textured wall paper was used & I liked the way the watercolour paint formed pools of colour on the surface. It was not necessary to stretch the paper.

Josie

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‘Untitled’ Kirsten Roberts

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‘On TV’ Luc(e) Raesmith

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‘Bloom’ Bloom is a mixed media textile piece.

The work centres around an orange soft felt flower. The intention being to represent vulnerability and the quiet realties I carry that may not be immediately seen. The typed words represent my spirit and the joy I feel when being creative.

Lucy McLellan

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‘Mianmian’ Mengxia Shi

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‘Energy’ Paige Lyons (they/them)

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‘Deadly Apple’ This piece explores temptation, harm, and beauty coexisting. I was drawn to the deadly apple as a symbol of desire that carries consequences. The deep reds and dark shadows reflect seduction, warning, and power. I chose a bold, glittery colour and a simple form to let the image speak clearly by inviting the viewer to question what we reach for and why.

Phoenix

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‘Power of the P’ I love using Ecoline pens due to the fluidity. I feel it gives me freedom and to work with colour by blending inks together.

It allows me to quickly design and develop my ideas onto paper.

Preeti

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‘Carl’ The best cat in the world Rachy Tee

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‘Relish the Whimsy’ Roseanne Powell

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‘Love Vintage’ I came across these items while sorting through my Nan’s home after relocating her to a care facility for Alzheimer’s.

Sam Taylor

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‘Sadness’ and ‘Joyfulness’ These images are part of an emotional wheel I created during an Art Therapy course. I chose them because they represent change, especially with grief over the loss of a relationship or the death of a loved one. Joyfulness reflects purpose and connection, while sadness signifies love and meaning. Joyfulness and sadness are interconnected emotions within the human experience.

Sarah Crowley

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‘Creative Confusion’ It's not easy to be at peace through mental distortion - but art is a way to balance your distorted mind with peace.

Stuartist

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‘My cat Shadow’ Vivian Tsang

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‘Diverse’ The poetry in this piece was written in response to Lexi Jones’ writing prompt, “What is your soul made of?”

Wendy Jane Paterson

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‘Cher Ami’ Killed in war, awarded a medal for bravery as if he had a choice. I created a flag for him to rest upon. Blue, the sky in which he should have flown free. Red, the horrific injuries sustained. Black, the absence of his light. Repeated blue, Cher Ami’s return to the sky.

His story broke my heart.

Three drops of blood in this work, my pale sacrifice in honour of the tiny bird who lost so much more.

Wendy Jane Paterson 55

Make Art Issue #2: 2026 Visit outsidein.org.uk for more information and how to get involved Outside In, PO Box 5571, Brighton, BN50 8UR 07311 922602 Instagram: @outsidein_uk Right: ‘Untitled’ Luc(e) Raesmith