BrightSparks Arts

BrightSparks Arts Community of mental health service users, volunteers and others, who use art to promote the positivity of mental health and well being in Leicester.

19/10/2025

And this beauty is 'Suggested by a Toothpaste Advertisement' created by Jess Parkes at our George Orwell inspired Smoothie session last week.

Suggested by a Toothpaste Advertisement.

It was a bright cold day in April,
And the clocks were striking thirteen.
Bright cold day,
Took my worries away when I wrapped up warm.
I looked in the mirror and I saw the smile,
It was the smile of a thousand notions chattering teeth.
Frightening me but still,
My teeth kept me safe,
Because it was a bright cold day,
And I needed bright toothpaste.
Must add that to my list:
Toothpaste, mouthwash,
Let’s brush them safely up and down.
Oh! How they shine,
Aren’t they bloody fine?
Night and morning my brother,
Oh, brush them up and down!

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

And this is 'My Safe Haven' created by Vanessa Hughes at a Georgia Grocock led ArtsCafe group session inspired by the 'M...
19/10/2025

And this is 'My Safe Haven' created by Vanessa Hughes at a Georgia Grocock led ArtsCafe group session inspired by the 'Mapping from Memory - Safe Spaces' theme.

19/10/2025

This lovely piece is 'Little Acorns give rise to Mighty Oaks created by Bernadette Loughran at last week's Wednesday Words online session.

Little Acorns give rise to Mighty Oaks.

Little acorns give rise to mighty oaks,
Their strength and majesty rise,
Through your roots to the resplendent canopy.

Centuries ago you were felled,
Brought to your knees.
Timbers hewn and carved into wooden ships,
Your knees now supporting the planks on all decks.

Commissioned into the Monarch's Royal Navy,
You sailed the Seas and Oceans,
Mighty still.

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

18/10/2025

And this piece is 'It Works out for the Good' created by Chet.

It Works Out for the Good.

I am thankful & have everything which is essential.
I have a Family, as around the World Children are hungry & homeless.
I thank you Lord for the charities that help provide them with food, clothes & a place to sleep, & also studying tools for their benefit of learning in confidence, which will bring a smile to their faces.
For the joy developed, goes on into the future, giving them a chance to dream Big, Being a Team, for this Lovely Scene.
Amen.

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

And here's a 'Blast from the Past' from Jan Tardy, the 'Hope' mural is still in place in the Rec. Hall at The Bradgate M...
18/10/2025

And here's a 'Blast from the Past' from Jan Tardy, the 'Hope' mural is still in place in the Rec. Hall at The Bradgate Mental Health Unit and the Eid display is still used every year, the others are lost I'm afraid.

18/10/2025

And this is 'About Teeth' created by Alkesh Ramesh at our George Orwell inspired Smoothie session this week.

About Teeth.
I brush my teeth in the morning,
I brush them up and down!
Clean my gums squeaky clean,
They are sometimes bloody fine.

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

And this is 'Holiday Safe Haven' created by Richard Abraham at a Georgia Grocock led ArtsCafe group session inspired by ...
18/10/2025

And this is 'Holiday Safe Haven' created by Richard Abraham at a Georgia Grocock led ArtsCafe group session inspired by the 'Mapping from Memory - Safe Spaces' theme.

18/10/2025

Look at this wonderful 'Trees' piece created by John Constantine at our Wednesday Words online session this week. Lovely work.

Trees.

You are the lungs of the world,
You stand in majesty
Above us
We should bow.

Your leaves flutter down
With angel wings,
Showering us with gold.

You tell us the seasons,
And in winter's fallow,
You teach us to rest.

Make us carpenters,
So that we may run our lathes
And lavish praise,
Upon you.

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

Hello AllWe hope that you are all well.A very special event this year, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of BrightSparks:...
17/10/2025

Hello All

We hope that you are all well.

A very special event this year, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of BrightSparks: Arts in Mental Health CIO we are proud to announce:

Submissions are invited for the ‘Save the World’ BrightSparks/LPT Annual Open Art Exhibition featuring artworks from mental health service users of Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland, and beyond.

Please contact Tim Sayers to book your place and arrange collection and framing if necessary. One piece per person. Friends, family, and mental health professionals are also welcome to submit their work.

Please share this post to contacts etc.

Lydia Towsey Sallie Varnam Hermione Aston Rob Gee

15/10/2025

And this amazing 'It was a Bright Cold Day' piece created by Netty Jonas at our George Orwell inspired Smoothie session this week.

It was a Brilliant Cold Day.

It was a bright, cold day in April,
And the clocks were striking thirteen.
This was the start of something big,
And something frightening.
“Why thirteen?” I asked the world,
“Why not?” answered the clock.
“You got a problem with that?”
“Definitely.” I answered back,
“It is unlucky to strike thirteen.”
“In that case I shall strike thirteen twice.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I want you terrified,
I want you of this planet.”
“Thanks for that,
You know what they say,
Be careful what you wish for,
You may get it.”

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

And this is 'Fields of Old' created by Jonathan at a Georgia Grocock delivered 'Landscapes from Imagination - Dreamscape...
15/10/2025

And this is 'Fields of Old' created by Jonathan at a Georgia Grocock delivered 'Landscapes from Imagination - Dreamscapes' workshop at ArtsCafe at The Bradgate Mental Health Unit.

15/10/2025

We did a 'Trees' warm up exercise at Wednesday Words online today and Mark Murphy came up with this beauty.

An oak is no relation to a pine,
They are not kin so do not share a vine
Of DNA. They are ecosystems warm and lush.
When is a tree not a tree? When it’s a bush.
Our oaks are Portuguese like our hedgehogs.
Everything else came from the Urals, from our flowers to the dogs.
Yews hide behind church walls, so they don't poison the cattle.
Myths about trees, they sing and rattle.

Lydia Towsey WORD Poetry

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