Bedford art class with music is 'liberating and inspirational'

Frescoes Art Club meets every Monday at Frescoes Coffee House on Mill Street, Bedford

An art club that uses music to inspire creativity has been described by artists as "liberating" and "inspirational".

Fiona Wilson, the co-creator of Painting Music at Frescoes Art Club, Bedford, said it was to "encourage experimentation and combat overthinking".

Pat Walsh, a professional illustrator, said it "takes you out of yourself".

Artist, Andy Ramsey, said it "promotes self-expression with no judgement".

Xanthe Jackson (left) and Fiona Wilson started the club in the summer of 2020 and it became a weekly event

Fiona Wilson, who started the group with café owner, Xanthe Jackson, said: "Painting to music is exhilarating.

"It's a full-on sensory experience that stimulates spontaneous and emotive responses and enables me to get exciting marks down quickly.

"For me, what sets painting to music apart is just how 'in the moment' it can be.

"Sessions are very relaxed and designed to encourage experimentation, combat overthinking and cleanse the soul."

The music is an "eclectic mix" that is different for each class, and includes classical, jazz, pop, blues and glam rock, she said.

Pat Walsh said her work was open to interpretation and you could see whatever you wanted to in it

Ms Walsh, from Bromham, said painting to music was "completely different and something I have never experienced before, as I normally paint quietly and it's seen as serious business".

"The sessions are just fun and they take you out of yourself; you are completely swept up and carried away by it," she said.

"This is far outside my comfort zone and different from anything I've done before - it's liberating."

Andy Ramsey, a fine artist, created a landscape that was totally inspired by the music he heard

Mr Ramsey, from Bedford, said he would normally spend two weeks on a piece of art but when he painted to music he created something "completely different".

"The sessions are inspirational, you have the freedom to create with no intention - you go with the flow and it works," he said.

"It's freedom and you step outside your comfort zone."

Gemma Telford said the materials she worked with varied and she had used pastels, collage, paints and mixed media

Gemma Telford, who started attending in October, said: "I hadn't done any form of art since I left school, but I really enjoy the time to be creative, play and try things out."

The sessions were relaxed and meant to be an "inhibition loser", Fiona Wilson said