Norfolk Artscape: Encouraging Wellbeing Through Art

We are so lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty in Norfolk.

From the Norfolk Broads to our dynamic coastline, our county celebrates the diversity of nature and its breathtaking palette.

I don’t know about you, but I always feel better after taking an escape to nature (often Whitlingham Country Park!) - I can clear my mind, embrace the tranquillity of nature and appreciate the biodiversity that surrounds us.

When this range of natural beauty is at our fingertips, it’s no wonder that many artists have continued to be inspired by our surroundings, with many using their art to demonstrate the relationship between creativity and nature.

I recently met Dom Thorby, the Founder of Norfolk Artscape - a series of films that celebrate a range of talented artists from across our county. Not only do the films highlight the journeys of several artists, but they also spotlight the incredible relationship between creating art and our mental wellbeing.

I spoke to Dom to discover the journey of Norfolk Artscape, the creative process behind his films and his plans for the future!

When did Norfolk Artscape begin (and what was the inspiration behind this)?

The original concept for Norfolk Artscape began in 2018, when I was asked to create a promotional film for local wildlife and landscape artist, Philip Yorke.

I remember this being a very fulfilling experience and we quickly formed a close friendship. I particularly enjoyed filming him painting, and we spent a day walking around Pensthorpe Natural Park where he volunteered, filming him sketching birds, something he was especially passionate about. Getting to know his process, inspiration and the story behind his art was fascinating to me.

After showing the finished film to him, he came up with the idea of developing a series titled ‘Artscape’, which aimed to explore the work of other artists living and working in Norfolk.

Through Philip’s connections in the local arts community, we went on to collaborate on several films together, including one of landscape artist Brian Lewis, print-maker Alison Wagstaffe and renowned sculptor Tanya Goddard.

As time went on, we both became increasingly busy with professional commitments and the project was put on hold, the films remained unreleased and stored on a hard drive.

Tragically, Philip passed away in August 2024.

I was heartbroken after losing my friend and I felt this incredibly strong desire to continue the project we had started, believing it to be part of Philip’s legacy.

So, in the following months I began releasing these films on YouTube, and I reached out to other local artists offering them films, building up content for the channel. Getting to meet different artists and discovering their unique ways of creating has been very rewarding.

Norfolk has such a fantastic arts scene and is such a beautiful county, there are so many talented artists that live here and there is much to offer in terms of inspiration, from its wildlife to scenic coastline, I felt it was important to celebrate all that in these films.

Who are some of the artists that feature in these films?

Among the featured artists is glassmaker Claire Hack, who works from her Blue Flame Glass studio. The film explores her creative process and highlights her passion for crafting beautiful pendants and bespoke pieces from glass.

Sally Temple creates oil paintings inspired by the scenery and dramatic skies around Morston Quay, using her hands rather than brushes to paint.

Amanda Flowers discusses how Norfolk shapes her work, influencing her quirky, locally inspired pieces.

Lesley Ash reflects on the enjoyment she finds in sculpting dogs.

ArtShane, based in Worstead, produces dreamlike heat-press collages. His work transforms photographs of well-known Norfolk landmarks into imaginative pieces through ink work and digital image editing.

There’s just so much creative diversity showcased.

Describe your creative process when creating a new film.

I initially approach artists that I really liked the work of - I’m drawn to artists that have their own unique way of working and are trying something different. I usually arrange a meeting with the artists first and visit their studio space, this helps me get an understanding of their work and background.

I then create questions based on what I’ve learnt, I have a clear vision in my mind about what answers I’m looking for when I conduct a video interview and sometimes I will rephrase questions to get the right response.

I ask the artists questions, but it’s all very relaxed and then film their processes as well as any work that is on display in their studio. There’s been occasions where I’ve returned to film additional content and sometimes, I include footage of Norfolk scenery that helps tell the story.

I enjoy filming but I also love the editing, it can take time to get it right but there’s a great sense of satisfaction when you combine everything together to create a final film. I like to think by adding all these elements together, I’ve created something that expresses both the art and the artist’s personality.

What impact do you hope for your films to have?

The aim of the Norfolk Artscape films is to inspire creativity and make viewers think about trying something new. Highlighting the importance of how creating something can have a positive impact on our lives, encouraging wellbeing through art.

I hope by watching the films the audience will gain an understanding and appreciation of how the place we live can influence us and our imagination.

How do you alter your visual style to match the story of the artist?

All the films have a similar visual style, they are short films around 4-6 minutes long and I try to make them feel like they are all interconnected and part of something bigger, sometimes using similar opening shots and music. But I will sometimes add additional shots and change the style in a film to help tell the story.

For example, I made a film about watercolour artist Sara Kenyon, Sara creates beautiful paintings of birds and flowers. She is inspired by the nature that surrounds her in her Norfolk countryside garden and when I visited her, I thought it was very important to capture that. This film in particular is a bit different to the others I’ve produced, as it not only shows her art process, but features lots of shots around her garden. I think it’s a really lovely film that also highlights the beauty of nature.

I find that using music really helps make the films come together too, I try to find different background music for each film that fits the personality of the artist.

What do you love most about creating your films?

It’s been wonderful to meet so many lovely, creative people while doing this project. I have made some good friends during the process, so connecting with the artistic community has been a great experience.

It’s also been so nice to share the finished films with the artists and to see their reactions, hearing positive feedback is always very encouraging and makes all the work worthwhile.

What impact has Norfolk had on the art industry?

There’s so much inspiration in Norfolk, the north Norfolk coastline with its wide sandy beaches and sea, the changing light. Charming villages and towns, its wildlife.

It’s so easy to see why Norfolk has such a big community of artists.

What power do you believe art holds?

Art can be incredibly powerful. I know from personal experience when I was younger and had moments of sadness, sitting in the garden and just drawing trees would really help me to connect with nature and relax. Art can be like a form of meditation in that way.

I think the core message in these films and what I always like to end on is the power of art. It can be an outlet for many people, a way to express emotion, release stress and calm the mind.

Creating art can be a great way for many artists to help their mental health by using their artwork to express their emotions.

How important do you believe it is to look after our wellbeing/ mental health (and how can the arts help this)?

Looking after our mental health is essential.

For me, it’s about finding balance and knowing how to cope when things get difficult. Simple things like taking breaks and just finding time to relax and reflect. I see mental health as being just as important as physical health.

And I believe art can give you a mindful focus and sometimes a distraction, a way to escape from the madness of the world and be in a state of peace. Creating art can be incredibly satisfying, giving you a sense of accomplishment that can help make a big difference to your mood.

The rise of AI has divided many industries. What impact do you believe this piece of technology has had on the art industry (and how can we handle its growth effectively)?

With the growth of generative AI, there is a fear that we will lose our imagination and our ability to create.

In the films, many artists speak about the impact of the creative process. Artists when they are creating put so much of their energy and emotion into their work, making each piece unique. The process of creating art can be such an outlet, some find it incredibly healing and therapeutic. It can be incredibly rewarding to feel that sense of accomplishment when you get to the end result.

There may be occasions when mistakes happen, but you can learn from these mistakes and improve - sometimes an unintentional error results in a beneficial and creative outcome, creating can be a journey.

I fear all this is completely lost with AI. You can easily just get to the stage of a final image by typing in some keywords, but there is no personality, growth or emotional connection, as a result I feel AI art is soulless.

Also with how AI functions, plagiarising work of other artists to generate an outcome. I can understand the frustration for artists that have spent a long time developing their own unique style for that to be stolen and used to generate something similar.

I believe AI can be a useful tool but I personally don’t think it will ever be a replacement for real human artistic expression.

What do you hope to achieve this year?

I have some new films releasing on YouTube very soon.

I’ve just released a film about artist Megan Welton, who is a visually impaired artist who paints beautiful and bold paintings of hares and owls.

Coming soon there will be a film on Emily Longhurst who creates painted sailboats based on her love of the north Norfolk coastline. And Katha Wood, a photographic artist who creates hypnotic artworks that are printed on Aluminium.

I have plans to create even more films as well as develop a podcast series that features inspiring stories about how art has helped people get through difficult times in their lives. I’d also love to have the opportunity to have an exhibition and collaborate with more art organisations.

I want Norfolk Artscape to be a collaborative project that is a celebration of our beautiful county and its art scene, highlighting the fulfilment and joy that can be gained through creativity.

All the Norfolk Artscape films are available on YouTube.

To keep up to date with the fantastic work of Norfolk Artscape, you can head to their Instagram (@norfolk_artscape) or visit norfolkartscape.co.uk!