In a world that rarely slows down, finding ways to manage stress and anxiety has become a daily challenge. From mindfulness apps to fitness trends, the search for balance looks different for everyone. But for a growing number of people, the answer is as refreshingly simple as picking up a pencil.
Inside a calm, welcoming studio space in Lincoln conversations soften as people focus on the blank page in front of them. There is no pressure to get it right, just freedom to express yourself however you feel. This is ‘art as self-care’, a workshop designed to help people reconnect, relax and express themselves through creativity.
At the heart of this workshop is Hannah Cawthorne, an artist and educator who believes that art should be accessible to everyone regardless of skill level. “I really believe that art is for anyone,” she says. “There is this idea that you’re either good at it or you’re not, but that’s just not true. It’s something you learn, like anything else.” Cawthorne’s journey into art has been far from straight forward. Although she studied fine art at university, she stepped away from it for several years after graduating. “I think I was burnt out,” she explains. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at that point.”
After living abroad and eventually returning to the UK, she slowly rediscovered her creativity. First through photography and later returning to painting, focusing on abstract pieces. Encouraged by those around her, she began exhibiting her work and selling pieces at markets and art fairs, while continuing her work with children and young people.
“I’ve always worked with young people in different settings,” she says. “And I think that’s influenced how I run workshops now. It’s about making people feel comfortable and not judged.” Her interest in the link between art and wellbeing developed over time, but it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that its importance became especially clear. “I found lockdown really difficult,” she says. “I’m quite an anxious person anyway, and the uncertainty was a lot to deal with.” With limited time for large projects, she turned to smaller creative habits. “I started doing collages every day, just little postcard-sized pieces,” she explains. “It was low pressure, but I could actually feel it lowering my stress levels.” This experience now underpins her ‘Art as Self Care’ workshops, which are designed to give people a practical starting point. “The idea is to create a toolkit,” she says. “A set of simple approaches people can use when they don’t know where to begin.” That uncertainty, the fear of the blank page, is something she sees often. “A lot of people love the idea of doing art, but they don’t know what to do,” she says. “So, I try to show them that it can be anything. It doesn’t have to look a certain way.” Her own artistic process reflects this philosophy. As an abstract painter, she rarely plans her work in detail. “I start a painting with no clear idea of what it’s going to look like at the end,” she says. “For me, the joy is discovering what it becomes.” This intuitive, process-led approach is central to her teaching, although she acknowledges it can feel unfamiliar. “Some people find it really liberating,” she says. “Others aren’t sure at first, because it’s so different from what they expect art to be.” But the benefits of engaging in creative activity are not just anecdotal. Research suggests that even short periods of artistic practice can reduce stress levels and improve overall wellbeing. A study by the national institute of health found a 73 % decrease in symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression after art therapy. Cawthorne points to the idea of “flow,” a concept developed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. “It’s that state where you’re completely absorbed in what you’re doing,” she explains. “Time disappears, and you’re just focused. That’s where art can be really powerful.”
While Cawthorne’s workshops are built on her own experiences, it’s impact is best understood through those who take part. A regular participant of the workshops, Mark Stevens, 35, who had joined to manage work related stress praises the idea and urges others to try.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he admits. “I haven’t done art since school, and I didn’t think I was very good at it.” However, the relaxed nature of the session quickly changed his perspective. “There’s no pressure,” he says. “It’s not like school where you feel like you’re being judged. You can just try things.” For Stevens, the biggest benefit was the sense of focus. “You’re not thinking about emails or deadlines,” he explains. “You’re just concentrating on what’s in front of you, and that’s actually quite calming, if your unsure you should just give it a go.” He adds that the experience has encouraged him to consider making creativity part of his routine.
“I think I’d try doing something small at home,” he says. “Even if it’s just for a few minutes, it could make a difference.”
As the session ends, participants can step back from their work not to critique it, but to reflect on the experience. There is a quiet sense of achievement in the room, strangers who are battling the same troubles and worries coming together to do a task so simple but so effective.
For Cawthorne she sees the biggest barrier is confidence not ability. “I’ve lost count of the number of people who tell me they were once told they weren’t good at art,” she says. “And they’ve carried that with them for years.” She is determined to challenge that perception. “All children are artists,” she says, referencing a well-known idea often attributed to Pablo Picasso. “The challenge is holding onto that as you grow up.
