Emma Cairns

I am a Free Lance Artist Educator who is passionate about creating safe inclusive spaces that nurture people’s creativity.  I started Home Ed Creatives 4 years ago – LIVE Online Group Art Classes for Home Educated children from the UK and abroad. I have since stared running in person sessions in various settings (Museums, Sports Centres and Community Centres)  for participants of a variety of ages and abilities. I have a personal creative practice, working mainly in watercolours.  I also have a small business selling cards and products  with my Art work on them.

Mindful art became my refuge after life changing brain surgery.  Now I’m passionate about sharing these techniques with others, utilising my 24 years teaching background to help adults and children experience the same benefits in a relaxed and accessible way.  All my techniques are abstract, so the focus is on the benefits of the process rather than the outcomes eg zendoodles, mandalas, watercolours.  My clients love the calm environment of the workshops and the well being benefits they feel before and after.  I currently deliver workshops, retreats and motivational talks to private clients, NHS employees, WI groups and schools.

I’m an artist and creative producer with a wealth of experience of founding arts ventures and running arts venues, programmes, events, exhibitions and festivals – with a focus on fun and innovative approaches to animating underused spaces. Most recently I’ve had the privilege of setting up Saint John’s Arts’ Programme, collaborating with a large Education Trust to provide new exciting opportunities for young people to get involved in the arts in Gosport. I’ve also worked as Producer for Journeys Festival International, and held previous roles at ArtSpace Portsmouth, Liverpool Biennial and founded The Royal Standard (gallery, studios and social workspace), and Mighty Oak Creative Agency.