Art as Support – LUAP and Mind in Bexley
Through a series of creative workshops with Mind in Bexley, LUAP supports participants in using art to process emotion, spark connection, and rediscover forgotten parts of themselves — with support from Daler-Rowney and Arts Council England.
As part of his ongoing project Seeds of Change, LUAP partners with Mind in Bexley to deliver a series of reflective, hands-on art workshops for local community groups. Each session is quiet, open, and deeply human — offering time and space for people to make something, think differently, and feel seen.
LUAP visits a wide range of groups hosted by Mind in Bexley, including those focused on depression, anxiety and menopause support. The settings are informal but intentional — community rooms and drop-in spaces transformed into studios for a few hours. People arrive carrying different things — stories, experiences, tiredness, curiosity — but each person is met with the same gentle invitation: to simply start where they are.
The Pink Bear — LUAP’s recurring figure — becomes a quiet presence in the sessions. He shares its origins and its role in his own recovery. The bear becomes not just a symbol, but a point of connection, something to talk around, to draw, or to reimagine in a new way. Participants are encouraged to explore their own symbols too — using shape, line, and colour to reflect on emotions and memories that don’t always have words.
The materials are part of the process. With support from Daler-Rowney, each session is stocked with professional paints, paper and tools — laid out with care. For many, it’s the first time using materials like this, and the difference is felt. These are not ‘craft’ sessions — they’re creative spaces where people of all ages and experiences are invited to work with dignity, and to feel that what they’re making matters.
LUAP’s approach is grounded, non-judgemental and generous. He listens, shares, and gives people space to find their own way in. It’s not about outcomes. It’s about offering the tools — visual, emotional, material — and trusting that something meaningful can come through.
These workshops are supported using public funding by Arts Council England and delivered as part of LUAP’s broader Seeds of Change project. While the outdoor installation at Winter Sculpture Park plays out in a rewilded landscape, these quieter sessions are just as transformative — offering room to explore, reflect and grow.
“I was nervous when it came time to create. Paul encouraged us not to worry about mistakes, just to do something that made us happy. I hadn’t drawn or painted for years. I’d forgotten how much pleasure it gives me.”
“Paul’s idea of expressing ourselves through paints helped me express a difficult feeling in a really nice way.”
“It helped me connect with myself and with the positivity I had in me.”
“I’m not an arty person, but I really enjoyed taking part. Paul’s background was inspiring. I was really impressed with my finished piece.”
“The session was therapeutic and relaxing. You can lose yourself in the moment.”
“I discovered a skill I’d forgotten about. It felt really good to paint after 25 years.”