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Expression - 2024

Expression web banner on colourful background

Amanda Rigby and Mark Grist were the 2024 Artist and Author in Residence for Inspire!

Illustration of a monster by artist Amanda Rigby. It is pink with large eyes.

Stimulating creativity and imagination, Amanda and Mark used their professional expertise to actively encourage reading and drawing throughout the summer and left a legacy of work linked to the Summer Reading Challenge theme, Marvellous Makers. They co-created the summer workshops and exhibitions, Expression with the help from primary aged school children.

Thank you to our 2024 twinned schools:

  • Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School
  • John Blow Primary School
  • Lowe's Wong Anglican Methodist Junior School
  • Worksop Priory C of E Primary Academy

Illustration of a pink monster with black outline. It it pink with large eyes.
Book cover of Rhinos Don't Cry. It has a yellow background with an illustration of a rhinos head holding back tears.
Illustration of an octopus. It is pink and it's tentacles are swirling around.
Expression exhibition web banner on colourful background.

Amanda, Mark and the school children collaborated to make expressive artwork and original poems that celebrate the wide range of emotions we feel every day as human beings.

The children explored expressive mark making and the artistic process to make monsters that illustrate different emotional states. The poems playfully used metaphor, personification and imagination!

Artwork and poems were on display from Saturday 13 July to Sunday 8 September 2024 at the following Inspire Libraries:

A photograph of a large poster filled with colourful imaginative drawings of monsters
A photograph of the wall of the gallery at Worksop Library showing the Expression artwork
A photograph of A4 colourful mark making artwork on a gallery wall
Inspire_Expression-Workshop-Web Banner.jpg

During the Expression family workshops, Artist in Residence Amanda Rigby helped participants draw emotional monsters, expressing feelings through mark-making and colour. Author in Residence poet Mark Grist shared his captivating picture books, Rhinos Don't Cry and his brand-new release, Bears Don't Get Scared. Families had fun playing rhyming games and Mark helped young writers contribute to group poems that focused on what makes us feel brave and uplifted. 

Photograph of artist Amanda Rigby doing a drawing demonstration of a monster
Selfy photograph of Amanda Rigby and Mark Grist stood in front of a poem and monster they created for the Expression Exhibition
Photograph of author Mark Grist reading his book

Have a go at home!

How To - Make a Monster!

Image of Arts Council England logo
The Reading Agency logo - white text on bright pink background

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Supported using public funding by Arts Council England