Bailiwick Social Prescribing helps to improve health and wellbeing through non-medical support. It has weekly art classes on its list of activities.
Work from the Paint and Create sessions will be shown in the George Crossan Gallery in the Inner Market Square.
Visitors can admire their creations for free from tomorrow, with the gallery open Monday to Saturday from 9am-5pm until 30 August.
‘It gives me goosebumps,’ said social prescribing link worker Jo Hollyer-Hill.
‘Any time you do something as a group you get a special team vibe. If you could see how the group has grown – when people first join, they’re so hesitant. The confidence they gain is amazing and filters into the rest of their lives.
‘Art and creativity stimulates your emotions and senses and has a big effect on everything you do. The concentration brings your stress levels down and regulates them.
‘Before you get to the session you’re excited, when you’re there you’re mindful and when you leave you’re confident.
‘All these emotions build from this one activity, boost serotonin and enhance your whole life.’
Paint and Create sessions have taken place every Friday for the past two and a half years, led by local artist Olympia McEwan. She aims to have a different theme every week.
‘We create beautiful artwork but most importantly connections and friendships,’ she said.
All sessions take place on a donation basis where participants pay what they can afford. Users range from their early twenties to over 100, and numbers can be up to 25.
Karen Smith, one of its newest participants said she chose the classes as an alternative to anti-depressants.
‘I’m loving it,’ she said. ‘It’s all very relaxed and everybody is so encouraging.
‘It’s a couple of hours a week when I can forget all about my troubles and get immersed in my challenge. It’s a caring and supportive group.’
Karen Langlois joined the group when her late 95-year-old mum fell ill.
‘It’s now the highlight of my week,’ she said. ‘I hadn’t done art since school, I’ve really picked it up again.
‘It was somewhere for me to go and be myself for a few hours. Then you come home with your work and feel you’ve achieved something.
‘I started coming with my neighbours who all lost their mums around the same time. We call ourselves the Fab Four.
‘It’s amazing to see how much work has been done.’
Guernsey Arts has helped to facilitate the exhibition.
It said that it recognised the importance of the arts in health and wellbeing.
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