For June’s Online Art Group session, we continued our zine-making adventure with Gemma Dunnell – this time exploring found ephemera and scrap zines.

Using only pre-existing materials that we had found, collected, saved or gathered together, we created fold out zines filled with personal memories and visual storytelling. To inspire us the example that Gemma demonstrated was made from mementoes collected during a recent holiday in Spain – museum and gallery tickets, receipts from travel and meals, leaflets and even photographs. 

Rather than folding our zines first and decorating the pages afterwards, we took a different approach by creating one large collage before folding it down into the finished zine. Keeping the final page layout in mind, we carefully arranged images and materials so they would work once folded, before adding embellishments such as drawing, painting, layering, and handwritten notes.

While the holiday theme was simply an example, this technique offers a beautiful way to preserve and celebrate the small keepsakes we collect from holidays, day trips, special events and everyday adventures. Transforming treasured fragments into a unique, personal artwork and a lasting record of memories.

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Join us!
First Wednesday of the month
6.30–7.30pm on Facebook Live (with the option to watch back at any time, plus access to a full library of session recordings)

Contact: onlineartgroup@somersetartworks.org.uk 
www.somersetartworks.org.uk

The Somerset Art Works Online Art Group is an accessible space for people of all abilities to engage with art in a way that suits them.
Taking place online, artists deliver fun and mindful workshops in a variety of mediums – providing an opportunity to escape daily stresses and explore creativity for wellbeing. The group nurtures a creative community, helping members develop skills, connect with others, build confidence and express themselves.

Images: group members and the lead artist
With thanks to funding support in 2026 from Arts Council England