Rediscovering Play. Why Adults need to just give it ago.

So many people tell me, “I’m not artistic.” My response is always the same: “That’s good, because then I’ll have something to teach you.”

Art isn’t about becoming the next Pablo Picasso. It’s about doing it because you enjoy it. Creating with your hands is deeply rewarding, almost primal, and has real benefits for mental health. It reconnects us with curiosity, imagination, and the simple joy of making.

In my adult art workshops in Great Ayton, Swainby, Stokesley and across North Yorkshire you’re not aiming for perfection. The goal is the experience, the spark it lights inside you. You might take home a painting, a sketch, or a sculpture that surprises you, but more importantly, you’ve discovered a new way to explore, experiment, and enjoy the process. That enjoyment, repeated over time, naturally leads to improvement.

Think about children. They play freely, experiment, make mistakes, and get better simply because they enjoy doing it. As adults, we often forget we can do the same. Creative classes for adults aren’t tests. There is no grade, no pass or fail.

At the end of the day, it’s not the picture or object you produce that matters most. What you make is simply some canvas and paint. The joy, curiosity, and sense of discovery are the real rewards. Taking something home that you’re proud of is lovely, but the true value lies in the experience itself.

John Cleese once said:

"Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating. An ability to play. To play is to experiment."

That is the heart of my teaching: permission to play, explore, make mistakes, and enjoy the process. Creativity is a practice, not a measure of innate skill. And the first step is simply giving it a go.

If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t do art,” I invite you to try anyway. Join one of my hands-on art workshops or creative classes for adults in Great Ayton, Swainby, Stokesley, or nearby North Yorkshire. You might just discover the joy of creation you’ve been waiting for all along.

Book your place today and take the first step on your creative journey.