Friday 20th June 2025
Snakes, sloths, bowler hats, dragonflies and mobile phones, Pegasus and a giant eye. And why not?
This week we learned that artist, Jason Wilsher-Mills has received an MBE for his work as an artist and for raising awareness around disability issues. Our young creatives from the Personalised Learning College (PLC), who come to Space to Be to create each week, are also celebrating! They have just completed a ten-month project, a giant beanbag and a host of plushies for their community space at The Street.
The completed project is a legacy of Jason’s collaboration with Scarborough Museums and Galleries, and Crescent Arts (Connecting Coastal Cultures, an Arts Council England funded project.)
Last year, a moustached giant crab filled the space in the Woodend Gallery, a seagull sitting lopsided on his head, creating a new installation, Jason Beside the Sea, a comment on our quirky seaside town.
The psychedelic colours of Jason’s work reminded student, Jake, of the 1970s, and that was his gateway into exploring the artworks, loving all things nostalgic; Chloe (probably Jason’s biggest fan, ever) drew detailed pictures of the back of Totem’s big foot and interpreted the numerous eyes in Jason’s work, creating her own motif. Other students found their way into the exhibition through other references to their hometown, such as a new love story and patterns based on the Willow Pattern in Peasholm Park. A soundscape of Scarborough and a magnetic board added to the experience, encouraging us to interact.
We certainly had enough ideas to play with to start our own design project!
Students from Scarborough TEC, Chantelle and Harley, and our volunteer, Lana, also joined the group from PLC to become mentors, sharing their own techniques and creativity. Chantelle and Harley shared their own motivation for creating art and the very personal narratives of their work, making comparisons with Jason’s autobiographical art around disability, and his journey. For Lana, the project became a labour of love, as they worked behind the scenes to help make activities accessible, and becoming a reliable and trusted person in the sessions, supporting the students with a ‘can-do’ approach. Behind the scenes, Emily, a new volunteer, found herself working behind the scenes too, checking the seams of a dozen dragonflies. Welcome to the strange world of Space to Be.
In our first months together, we printed and played with vibrant colour clashes and pattern. The students braved the new sewing machines, to learn some brand new skills, and considered how we could make something 3D, sensory, with impact and for a purpose. Student, Tommy, became on expert on fabrics and advised the group on the best material for a sensory plushie experience.
We were having lots of fun, but an interview with Jason really resonated and helped us to have a new philosophy and confidence, moving the project forward and helping us all to feel really valued.
The students interviewed Jason to learn more about his inspiration, and to seek advice about their own design ideas. Knowing how busy he was, we were very grateful for the prospect of a ten-minute interview, but Jason was extremely generous with his time, with lots of planning before meeting the group and giving each student time and space to have their voices heard. An hour later, and our students were still coming forward with things they wanted to know. Students who had been relatively quiet in the sessions, stepped forward to embrace the opportunity, spoke clearly and expectantly for answers to their biggest questions.
“What is the meaning of love in your work?” asked James. Love being a major theme in Jason’ work, he was impressed.
We learned about Jason’s hospitalisation and how losing his mobility led to him taking up drawing as a child; we learned about his love of the Beano and the creation of character through autobiography; we started to think about what was important to us and how we might tell our own stories. We liked the idea that there isn’t an answer to everything, that some of Jason’s work is still a bit of a mystery. Most importantly, we learned from Jason that anything goes, if we have an idea, it is valid. Snakes and hats? Sloths and mobile phones? Dragonflies flying with Pegasus? And why not?
From that day we got a little bit braver, shared our voices too, made statements about our own thoughts on the world:
“Hold your head up, speak your mind, and don’t give a damn about what others say about you.” – Kyle
At times, our lack of technical equipment made us question whether we had taken on more than we could manage, but we are lucky here at Woodend to be able to call on other creatives to help us out, and visits to the design students of Fitzpatrick Design and meeting Neil gave us an insight into other creative careers. Neil spent time with several students, explaining how they would need to scale their designs before printing, and how a colour palette could be used to link all of their designs together. Working with textile artist, Wendy Doughty, we were able to problem solve how to make the beanbag robust enough for years to come.
We have learned that these opportunities to talk and learn from other creatives and professionals is one of the most valuable of resources, and something we want to build on next year.
“I can still be a successful artist with a learning disability or a physical disability.” – (A student comment from evaluation).
The project also reminded us of one of the purposes of our work in Space to Be, to be present in our communities and build a stepping stone for discovery. Our bean bag would have sat nicely in our own spaces: it is a thing of joy and beauty, but being at The Street, the students can proudly share it with their peers, be reminded of their achievements and talk about the day they met Jason, creating a bridge for new projects.
We have so many ideas for next year, and a confidence that is growing…but first, we might need a sit down!
Special thanks to Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE, the amazing support staff from the Personalised Learning College, all the students for their enthusiasm and commitment, to our work experience students and volunteers, Fitzpatrick Design and Sara Nowell for noticing the work we do with PLC and helping us to meet with Jason.