The Art of
Motherhood
Mandy Keaton, designer, bookbinder and all-round top creative lady, recently gave birth to twins, Rosey and Max. Only a couple of days later, she contacted me from the hospital, asking if I needed any extra details for this article. If that’s not dedication to the arts, I don’t know what is. To say Mandy is a powerhouse of skill and energy is an understatement. To quote Gareth Watling, Artfuel director, “Once Mandy gets her teeth into something she doesn’t let go until she’s got what she wants. She’s like a bulldog”. And she’s managed to pull off something we thought we’d never see in Doncaster artist studios. Here’s what you need to know. Artfuel is a not-for-profit social enterprise offering
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studio space for artists at a very low rate, from as little as £60 per month. They brought street art to Waterdale. You may have seen the horse racing mural, ‘Doncaster: Discover the Spirit’. They have also been instrumental in reclaiming the Lovers Sculptures which will be unveiled in the summer. They host a weekly dropin arts class and have been working as part of the Innovations project, giving people who’ve had limited access to the arts the chance to be creative. The organisation has just moved to St James Court, a stone’s throw from Cast and the Cultural Quarter. The new building will have space for even more artist studios and their phase two plans including a cafe area and sculpture garden.
In a way Mandy was already a mother to quite a few - artists, designers and makers. I had a studio at Artfuel for six months, and it was the perfect place to develop new work and meet new creative people. So, mother of Artfuel and mother of two, congratulations on your new arrivals. Enjoy your maternity leave and the new babies. You’ve done plenty for the local creative scene and for that we are eternally grateful. End If you’re keen to find out more Artfuel is open Thursday - Friday 10.00am - 4.00pm. St James Court, St James Street, Doncaster, DN1 3QH 01302 360571 info@ar tfuel .org.uk