Professional Artist Andy Parsons will be my Mentor as part of the Expressive Minds ‘Creative Arts for Wellbeing’ project.

Andy’s practice combines working in community contexts with making drawing, sculpture, and painting.

Andy has extensive experience working in Arts and Health settings and was recently Resident Artist at Sligo University Hospital for The Model, Sligo Home of The Niland Collection, which culminated in a major solo exhibition entitled ‘Patience’. He has also worked on a number of projects related to Arts and Mental Health, such as ‘Bedside’ at the Inpatients Unit in Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service.

Andy is an Associate Artist with Kids Own Publishing Partnership and recent projects have included an Art Residency at St Cecilia’s School for students with learning disabilities, facilitating their creative expression and voice. In 2020 he also led a Mental Health & Wellbeing arts project with Kids Own and a group of young people from Foróige Leitrim and Sligo Comhairle na nÓg.

Andy’s support and guidance will be invaluable throughout this project and I’m really looking forward to working with him.

This mentorship is supported by Leitrim Arts as part of Creative Ireland Creative Communities Leitrim 2024