Workshops and personal lead programmes:
2025 (October) Creative Mothers Workshop, Templeshannon Community Centre, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
2019 (March - June) ‘Side by Side’ Creative sessions with Parkinsons Group, Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford &
At Home with my Father who had Parkinsons alongside my mam and children
2012 - 2019 Coolgarrow Kids Workshops and weekly Saturdays meets, Coolgarrow Studios, Coolgarrow, Enniscorthy, Co.
October 2025 - Creative Mothers Art Workshop - Templeshannon Community Centre, Enniscorthy
I was kindly asked by dance artist Lucia Kickham to facilitate two workshops in October 2025 as part of her project Creative Mother Workshops. It was a great opportunity funded by Creative Places Enniscorthy for Mothers of any age or stage in motherhood to engage in dance, singing, writing and art sessions. It brought together a lovely group of mothers from various parts of County Wexford and allowed them to connect in this gentle and supportive environment.
Below is an overview followed by close ups
Shadow drawing demonstration by me to warm up
Crayon ‘Rubbings’ of tree trunk
Drawing with a stick with charcoal and graphite sticks attached; home made spinner dipped in ink
Above photos taken by Sasha Bratkova, courtesy of Lucia Kickham
Workshop 1: we explored mark making using pencils, charcoal, graphite sticks and watercolour pencils. Blind drawing helped break the ice for all, as they observed & drew some children’s first shoes and my dad’s last shoes. Watercolour pencils added a gentle wash to the drawings.
A simple spindle, to twirl strips of paper, allowed us make paper string
Workshop 2: We explored shadow drawing and drawing with sticks & charcoal and spinners & ink :-) - the process freed up expectation and lent itself to intuition and randomness. It was fun! Many of the processes were borrowed from workshops previously undertaken by me with children aged 5 - 13 .in Coolgarrow Kids. (See below)
Shadow drawing - drawing under fluorescent lights casts shadows - we worked with it.
Drawing from a distance using sticks and charcoal & spinners and ink
Above documentation - photos and videos taken by me - the artisit hosting the workshop
March - June 2019 ‘Side by Side’ A workshop for adults with Parkinsons’ disease
- part of a personal project for Creative Exchanges programme in conjunction with Age and Opportunity
undertaken in The Presentation Art Centre and At Home
Scan with your mobile phone camera to view slideshow of workshops or click link below
Parkinsons Group work
At Home with my parents and kids
The Process lent itself to connection, silence, activity and chats around the table. Although initially hesitant to take part by the final session my Dad was the last to leave the table. He kept going - to finish it to his liking. I heard him breathe deeply and slowly. I saw his steady hands and at ease in himself. I saw him sign his piece. It felt true and calm and helpful to him and to me - that this experiment was worth a try. 28th April 2019. Dad died on the 28th August 2019.
From start to finish
2012 -2019 Coolgarrow Kids Summer workshops facilitated and run by me at Our home place. Saturday sessions during the rest of the year, lent itself to continuous
f Field work
Drawing with wire
Recycled sea creatures and drawings
