Our background

The Escape Artists (North Wales) is a community organisation making access to the arts easier for people who are furthest away from them.

Started in 2014, by two journalist colleagues – a writer and a photographer- we now have a fantastic team of artists, working in a wonderful range of media.

We  all really love what we do and want to share that with others.

2023 is our ninth year of making art.

We began by running the Altered Images art project for men in the probation system.  

Members of that group have had work exhibited in major galleries – including London’s Southbank  – won numerous Koestler Awards, and have sold work in gallery shops.

In 2019, Altered Images was one of five projects chosen to take part in Gwynedd Council’s evaluation of the health and wellbeing benefits of the arts, in conjunction with Bangor University.

Also in 2019, we ran our first Writing Competition for men and women from Wales who are in the prison and probation system. We were thrilled to have Welsh poet Laureate Ifor ap Glyn, playwright Rachel Tresize, and author and Radio 4 presenter, Horatio Clare as our panel of judges.

You can see our lockdown exhibition of photography, which was held at at Llandudno Rotunda (November, December 2021, January 2022) here

Meanwhile, our Still Life art groups for people who have been bereaved, started in Conwy, in October 2018, and Rhos on Sea in July 2019,.

These groups remained active – and indeed, flourished, -throughout the epidemic, with monthly art packs, despite CV19 and lockdowns.

Where there’s art there’s hope…

For the last 18 months we have been back in the room together and also ran our now legendary Ruby Tuesdays social group, a fun mix of music, wine and beer tastings, photography, art and talks.

Watch this space!

If you would like to know more, please contact us at escapeartistsnorthwales@gmail.com