Celebrating diversity with Interestingly Different
Challenging Perceptions
Appreciating the interestingly differentIn June, I had the pleasure of celebrating diversity with Interestingly Different/Nickel Support (an award-winning Carshalton-based company that works with adults with learning disabilities) by collaborating on a community art project. I have long admired the enterprise and love their shop filled with second-hand furniture upcycled by their trainees in groovy house colours. Local CAOS artist Kate Marsden also worked with a group.
Our project, along with photos of the trainees taken by contemporary portrait photographer Yani Yordanova, is the subject of a new exhibition set in Whitehall Museum, Cheam. It is called CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS | Nickel Support and runs from 4th October – January 2026.
The project brief was to work with four trainees to produce some art and designed products such as tea towels and mugs to be sold in their shop Interestingly Different, their coffee shop Beans and Bloom, in Whitehall Museum in Cheam, and beyond. The project was made possible thanks to a grant by Arts Network Sutton.
Ashley from Interestingly Different wanted one nature theme and one diversity and inclusion. Surprisingly for me, I went for the latter. Inspired by a boarding I saw in New York – Everyone is different, everyone’s the same ( To view: Instagram). –shortened to ‘Different but the same’.
In a world where many seem intent on dividing us, it’s important to remember that while we may indeed be different we are nevertheless the same.
It was great working with the trainees, I found the group warm and friendly. They really enjoyed their creative sessions and worked hard. I hope you come and see the exhibition!
The Project
Wanting the trainees to experience a range of materials and techniques, firstly, I choose to get them doing some research painting of some interestingly different leaves.
We think of all leaves being green and looking the same, but I am fond of the interestingly different ones I seek on my walks, such as spotty leaves and ones with coloured patterns – they are ‘ Interestingly Different’! They stand out in a crowd and make life more interesting.
Week 2 we began to develop some of the interestingly different leaf shapes using geli printing. Geli printing is great fun and easy to use. My goal was to create some designs by overlapping all of the unique leaves. The differences coming together to make a more interesting collection.
During the third week, the trainees relief printed with some of the leaf prints and then collaged to create fish and butterfly designs, inspired by artist Clare Youngs. These have been turned into cards, mugs and tea towel designs.
In week four we made some fine art prints by geli printing shapes of lots of different people . Some were young, some were old, some were small, some were large, some had walking sticks and some had wheelchairs.
Its wonderful how different species grow together. Of course some are stronger than others but looking around and thinking about biodiversity allows us to appreciate the collective. From the fine delicate flowers that bloom for a short time, to the contrasting strong hogweed that takes over. I love them all because they bring colour to my life and hopefully yours too.
Linked Workshops
To accompany this exhibition I will be running workshops at my studio in Oaks park in October half term. This workshop is suitable for ages. It could be a fun half term activity or a taster session for an art class. I will show you how to find the beauty in the biodiversity of nature and how great it is to mix and paint with colour. For more information and to book : Children’s Art Workshops Surrey – Budding Artists | CATS club
