By Jane Knowles
A group of art enthusiasts gathered at the orchard in St Peter’s Churchyard in Bramley on the morning of Thursday, 10 September.
They were there to enjoy Florals, Fruits and Foliage – a loose watercolours workshop led by Grace Hills. The event was part of the Art in Orchard project organised by Fruit Works Cooperative.
The workshop was attended by people with a variety of previous artistic experience, from those who were complete novices to some with art qualifications. However, they were all united in their desire to spend time outdoors, creating paintings of and in nature.
At the start, Gini Morandi explained how Fruit Works is a social enterprise helping people to plant and maintain fruit trees in the Leeds and Bradford area. Their aim is to enable everyone in West Yorkshire to access beautiful orchards and have opportunities to take part in growing, harvesting, and enjoying fruit within their local area.
It is hoped by holding art workshops in the orchards themselves, participants will develop an emotional connection with them, helping to foster a desire to care for nature and community. It was good to learn that Leeds has the largest number of community orchards in the country with the exception of London!
Grace Hills then demonstrated how to achieve the loose watercolour style by applying paint with varying amounts of water on the paper or the brush.
The group then chose an area of the orchard or the wider churchyard to focus their artistic gaze on. Some 90 minutes later after tea and biscuits and some engaging conversation, a “Show and Tell” session brought everyone back together to admire one another’s masterpieces.
Participant Miranda Mohit said: “It’s been great to do something creative outside. Now we’re heading into colder times it’s nice to be doing something in nature. Also, it’s great to be able to do something for adults and bring my baby. Hopefully, more mums might come.”
And West Leeds Community Media chair Anne Akers also attended. She said: “I read about the workshop in the West Leeds Dispatch and thought what a lovely idea. It’s so enjoyable to be outside in a lovely place with people I don’t know doing some painting.”
If you would like to know more about Fruit Works Cooperative and their up-and-coming workshops you can visit: https://www.fruitworks.org.uk/
What a lovely article, Jane!