Sherwood art week is a weeklong festival of art and craft in Nottingham Sherwood in a week at the start of summer. There is art in shop windows, homes, post-boxes, and trees. It is anywhere and everywhere, and you don’t want to miss it.

This year it was so nice to walk round the art and not only see art about themselves and others but also art for Ukraine. Ruth Eales painted “Peace for Ukraine”, an original watercolour, helped raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine humanitarian appeal. Ruth uses different styles and mediums but particularly likes strong colours to capture emotions of people, but animals too. She said “I empathise with the subject when painting portraits, and I aim to show this in the finished piece”

What also stood out to me was Lauren hunts “The art of self-care”. She brought 3 artists together to develop and share their ideas and artwork so that she could nurture a sense of connection and support for those experiencing metal health difficulties as well as the wider public. Lauren has skills as an artist and social practitioner, she discovers how social theory can be applied to self-care through creativity. She finds self-care from scrapbooking especially during the pandemic.

As I was walking round Robin Perko’s oil paintings stroke me because of the high standard of oil paintings he created. I thought his paintings were so inspiring because of the work he does behind it, Robin frequently works with survivors of PTSD, where art is found to be an effective therapy. Robin paints for portrait painters, British artists, oil painters and the new English art club. He paints portrait, landscape and still life.

I think my favourite artist exhibiting, was Katherine Hill, a textile artist who works mostly with recycled/ vintage fabric. She collages with fabric to create her designs which she turns into cushions, hot water bottle covers or display pictures. Everything she makes is her original designs which are usually animal based. She said, “I love the way that the different colours, patterns or textures of fabric can be combined to create something completely new”.

This year’s vibrant collection of art work was outstanding. I would recommend going to anyone, anyone at all.