Join local artist Emily Bowers in collaboration with Art Pop-Up for a series of free and fun creative workshops, talks and artist-led walks as part of her artist residency at Deeping Lakes. It will also be a chance to learn about the wildlife living at the reserve, why it is such a vital space and to experience how Emily works as an artist and illustrator.

Informed by her time investigating the Deeping Lakes area throughout July, there is a range of free art workshops, walks and talks across Deeping in August. There’s an open invitation to local people to join these events and be part of the creative journey.

These sessions kick off with an Artist Talk on Tuesday 3 August at the Priory Church Hall garden 7pm-8pm. During her talk Emily will be sharing the development of her practice and what motivates her as an artist and illustrator. She will discuss her inspirations and some of the techniques and methods she uses to make work. Her talk will take a peek at her research and works in progress for the Deeping Lakes residency.

Then there are a number of workshops for both adults and children taking place at Deeping Library check out the digital flyer below for all timings and dates. With each workshop focusing on a different theme such as wetland birds or wildflowers, you can come along and make your very own artwork. Emily will then transform these community works into a large scale piece, bringing everyone's creativity together with her own.

The project concludes with an artwork unveiling on Saturday 28 August showcasing all that has been achieved in the programme throughout the month. This will be followed by an Artist-led walk around Deeping Lakes on Sunday 29 August where you have the opportunity to see the Deeping Lakes through an artist’s eyes and learn something new!

Artist Emily Bowers, said:
“I’ve been very lucky to learn about Deeping Lakes over the past month from visitors that know it well and from the volunteers who are there every week looking after the reserve. I’m really looking forward to getting to share this knowledge with you. I’m also really looking forward to providing a space for people to relax and make at the workshops. I can’t wait to see what we all make and it’s going to be exciting to see how the final artwork takes shape!”

Sam Roddan, Director, Art Pop-Up said:
"Art Pop-Up's aim is to provide inspiring, thought provoking opportunities for everyone to explore their creativity so we're really excited about this programme and extending our work to the Deepings. We've also done a lot of work around the wellbeing benefits of creativity which added to engagement with nature can have real impact for positive mental health - which I think is so needed in our communities currently. You don't have to be an undiscovered Picasso to get involved, everyone can give it a try - Emily's a fantastic artist who's great at sharing her skills and knowledge. It's about giving it a go and having fun whilst exploring more about this absolute treasure that is the Deeping Lakes."

You can find more details on artpopup.co.uk and for all information and updates follow Art Pop-Up on Facebook @ArtPopUpUK

Art Pop-Up is a Stamford based non-profit, community arts organisation celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. They create inspiring, thought provoking opportunities for creative discovery, participation & enrichment, to reach out to everyone in our communities. Community builders and cultural engineers, they believe everyone can be creative in their own way with a little encouragement and champion the important place creativity can have in the toolkit for positive mental health.

Emily Bowers is deeply inspired by nature / natural history and extremely concerned about the state of our planet and life with on it. She recently completed an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art and her goal is to create awareness and conversation whilst engaging people in the arts.