An exhibition of vibrant silk panels by artist Donna Fox. The work is inspired by links with Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the artist’s own Celtic roots. It is hung to coincide with St Patrick’s Day.
In 2021, Donna led series of creative consultations with community groups using Celtic designs as inspiration. To convert ideas from these sessions into artwork, Donna received mentoring from Ali Pretty at Kinetika Studio, London. This included an online masterclass joined by artists from The Beat Carnival Centre in Belfast. The centre runs Belfast’s We Are All Patrick St Patrick’s Day Pageant.
Since, Donna has been using silk painting as a therapeutic tool. She has led workshops at the Derby MS Activity Centre. She has worked with vulnerable older adults in Derby, patients at St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds and people supported by Maggie’s Centre Nottingham.
Many of the participants experience pain as part of their ongoing health conditions. Silk painting offers a distraction from pain – a change of focus. It helps with pain management. It lifted participants’ moods following the isolation of the pandemic.
About the artist
Donna Fox has been creative since an early age, learning music, dance and art. She has had a colourful career in arts management following her BA Hons Degree at North London University and PGCE which led to teaching in the community. Donna has always supported vulnerable and underrepresented communities through arts and creativity projects in roles such as Senior Arts Manager, CEO, Head of Arts and Events, working for Charities, Local Authorities and CICs.
Over the past two years Donna has been exploring more of her own art through silk painting with community groups, mentored by Kinetika, which will be seen in exhibitions, carnival parades, festivals and events. Donna has been funded by Arts Council England through ‘National Lottery Project Grants’ and ‘Develop Your Creative Practice’ for her silk painting art and leadership programmes. She has recently been commissioned by People Express in Derbyshire to create large community banners and by DWICA and Derby Museums to create a silk painting with her daughter Lia, called ‘The Centre That Powers The Road’.
