Being awarded three years of Arts Council England (ACE) funding in 2025 has been transformative for the Shepherd’s creative programme, enabling an ambitious calendar of workshops and creative mentoring designed to support people in recovery and strengthen the local arts community.

To launch this year’s creative activity, local artist Lindsay Pritchard led a five week introduction to oil painting at G5 Studio, in Wolverhampton Arts Centre (formerly the Newhampton Arts Centre) for members of the Good Shepherd’s art group.

The series began with an exploration of colour mixing with oils, before the group embarked on a four week detailed landscape project. Lindsay guided the group step‑by‑step through each stage and layer of the painting process, allowing participants to build technical confidence and creative expression.

Despite oil painting being the most challenging medium the group has tackled so far, participants embraced the experience and exceeded their own expectations. Feedback from the workshops has been overwhelmingly positive, and the finished artworks will be proudly showcased as part of the 2026 Recovery Month exhibition.

Lindsay Pritchard, Workshop Lead: “It has been inspiring to see everyone push themselves creatively. Oil painting can be complex, but the group showed real commitment and produced impressive work.”

Kate Penman, the project lead at Good Shepherd said: “Arts Council funding has opened the door to new creative possibilities for the people we work alongside. These workshops are about more than art, they are about confidence, connection, and celebrating achievement.”

Following last year’s National Recovery Walk in Wolverhampton, the Good Shepherd’s art group is now building momentum towards its large-scale public exhibition at Wolverhampton Arts Centre to mark Recovery Month in September 2026.

Supported using public funded by Arts Council England.

Photo credit: Nathan Allen Photography