Artist Vanessa Stone celebrates success of Newark creativity as Arts Council England funded Open Doors residency at National Civil War Centre on Appletongate, Newark, comes to an end

An artist has inspired hundreds of people to celebrate Newark’s rich history, and embrace their creative side in the process.

Vanessa Stone has been the artist in residence at the National Civil War Centre, on Appletongate, Newark, since October and now comes to the end of her six-month residency — a time she feels has been ‘utterly fabulous’.

When she first set up shop in the museum she aimed to bring the community together through art, allowing people to try their hand at her unique medium of papercutting and collage.

Over the past six months she has created a number of large scale works of art and held workshops and community events.

The residency was a part of Open Doors, a programme funded by Arts Council England, which is designed to promote access to the arts.

During her time at the museum, more than 1,800 people have walked through the doors of the studio and took part in activities.

“It’s been really fantastic because it’s been such a rich and varied experience,” she said.

“I’ve had lots of local people and some visitors who have come from a long way away too.

“Everyone has been so friendly and it’s been great to talk and learn a lot about Newark.

“I think to be able to come into a room where they can tune out and be creative is really good.

“That’s what Open Doors is all about, literally having the doors open for people of all abilities to access the arts.”

Objects which have inspired Vanessa’s work include a 16th century gingerbread mould featuring a king and a queen, a gold king’s head coin and even some printing blocks depicting storks which came from a former printmakers in Newark.

She said: “Working with the museum has been totally and utterly fabulous.

“To go into the museum stores was like the best bit of shopping I’ve ever done, because you get such an overview of a town and all the layers of history that are rooted here.

“I wanted to celebrate a lot of the museum objects which very much belong to Newark.”

Some of the most impressive pieces created during her residency are large tapestries coloured in by visitors, including a Newark Town Hall banner.

Alongside her studio time she also taught an art skills drawing club for adults, held workshops in the community with people of all ages and took part in numerous council organised events across the district.

Although her time at the museum has come to an end, Vanessa will continue to pop up around the town with solo projects and commissioned pieces.

She also plans to continue her celebration of Newark, with a series of paper cut works which represent views from around the town such as the River Trent, Market Place and Newark Castle.

Offering advice to whoever takes up the Open Doors residency next, she said: “I’d say totally go for it, because of how much you learn and particularly about Newark.

“Having this six months has given me the time to develop my own work as well as try new things.

“I’ve been doing this for around 20 years now and it’s given me a lot of focus.

“It’s made me realise I do something special, because lot of people don’t use their hands much and they have taken a lot of inspiration from it.

“It’s given me a lot of focus and a scheme like this helps celebrate local artists.”