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.

Watch our Online Art Group short film Click the image below or head to YouTube to watch our short film by filmmaker Hannah Earl. Capturing both the voices and experiences of Lead Artist Gemma Dunnell, and group member Ember Kelly, this film shares the positive impact of the Online Art Group on both the members and artists involved. The group nurtures a creative community, helping members develop skills, connect with others, build confidence and express themselves. 

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“Creativity is fundamental for our health and wellbeing, and supports us to live well for longer. An ever-strengthening body of research tells us that engaging with creativity and culture improves mental health and wellbeing and can be used in the prevention, treatment, management and recovery of physical health conditions.” – Creative Health Review, All Party Parliamentary Group 2023

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A Creative Library & Community

Since its post-Covid inception in 2022, we’ve explored a wide range of artistic techniques and approaches in the Online Art Group, supporting one another to discover how making art can benefit our wellbeing. After four years of meeting with you every single month, we’ve made the decision to pause the creation of new workshop content after August 2026, while we take some time to explore how the Online Art Group might develop in the future. 

Explore the library of recorded sessions

The Online Art Group remains open, and this is a pause rather than an ending. Over the past four years, the Online Art Group has built up an extensive library of recorded creative sessions, covering a wide range of artistic techniques, creative processes and ideas. Whether you missed a previous workshop, want to revisit something you enjoyed before or are simply looking for some creative inspiration, there is plenty to explore at your own pace.

Stay connected

The Facebook group also remains open as a community space where members can continue to share their artwork, ideas and creative journeys with one another. We hope the supportive and encouraging community that has developed over the past four years will continue, even while new live workshop content is paused.

How to join

The Online Art Group is free to join. If you would like to access the library of recorded sessions and join the community, please complete the registration form: REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE ART GROUP

Once you have completed the registration process, you will be given the information you need to join the private Online Art Group Facebook group. Once you are in the group, you can find the available recorded sessions through the Media and Albums sections.

If you have any questions about joining the Online Art Group, please contact: onlineartgroup@somersetartworks.org.uk

Looking ahead

Somerset Art Works is exploring how the Online Art Group might develop in the future and will be looking for opportunities to secure funding that could support new creative content. We’ll keep members updated if there are future developments.

We would also like to thank Emily Lewin, who has held and supported the Online Art Group so beautifully, and all of the artists who have contributed their time, ideas and creative approaches over the past four years.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Online Art Group, whether you joined for the very first session or discovered the group more recently. We hope the library and community continue to inspire creativity, connection and the joy of making.

2025

To assess the value of the group, its relevance and accessibility, we asked our 2025 group members for some feedback on their experience.
Those who responded told us (click on the images below to view or click here):

Read our 2024 Case study here:

Quiet Places – Wellbeing Programme
Our Somerset Art Works Wellbeing Programme offers artist-led, creative activities, focussing on teaching new skills, encouraging people to explore their creativity, express themselves, build confidence and feel more connected in the community. Art activities of any sort are great for developing self esteem and for maintaining wellbeing in turbulent times – the chance to reflect upon one’s circumstances and express oneself are invaluable.
We run in-person artist residencies with wellbeing groups around the county and our Somerset Art Works Online Art Group.
https://somersetartworks.org.uk/what-we-do/community-and-learning/quiet-places/

Somerset Art Works Online Art Group – the beginnings…
In 2020, in response to the pandemic, SAW developed an ‘At Home’ strand of our Quiet Places artist residency project. Funding was received in 2020 from the Somerset Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund via Somerset Community Foundation – bringing art activity online when we can’t meet in person. Our artists developed innovative and interesting ways of creatively engaging with wellbeing groups and individuals around the county, during a time when many were feeling particularly isolated.

We discovered that whilst engaging online isn’t for everyone – for some people it really works and is hugely valued!
For members of our community who are those isolated due to transport, rurality, shielding, caring responsibilities, or whose health conditions mean that getting out and about is problematic, the ability to participate in your own home, in your own time, in your own way, can be a much needed experience.

In 2022-2023 Somerset Art Works developed a new countywide Online Art Group thanks to funding from Open Mental Health, with funding support in 2025 from Somerset Community Foundation. With thanks to funding support from Arts Council England
www.somersetartworks.org.uk