ART SESSIONS for children and adults hosted in Denholme by a long-time villager are expanding.

Lauren Tordoff opened Mini Creations Studio in 2017 because she felt there were not enough local activities for young children.

She expanded to run monthly family sessions and adult art classes, and is now carrying out extensive modernisation of her facility in the Mechanics Institute.

Lauren, born in 1991, has lived in Denholme since she was 13 and has been a professional abstract artist for more than six years.

In 2017 she decided to set up a business and felt the Mechanics Institute in Denholme would be the most suitable base.

She said her daughter had such a passion for art, but there was a lack of community activities where children could socialise while having fun with art.

She said: “Now I work with all ages of children, helping them feel confident with art, allowing them to express themselves to create their own masterpieces.

“I also hold monthly events for adults and children, for them to have fun and meet up each month. We have big events gathering people from all over Yorkshire.”

“My adult classes give people confidence and a place to visit. My classes help adults with anxiety, loneliness and depression.”

Lauren’s next development will come on April 6 when she opens the doors of her spruced-up facility in the Mechanics Institute.

“I will host monthly social events along with party planning. We are fully redecorating the room and creating a venue bar/cafe.

“There will be a bar/café, and a new art studio for both the adults and children featuring new high-quality art equipment and art tools and mediums.”

Lauren is offering jobs for people to work with her studio, and work experience for young people on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Mini Creations Studio currently hosts art classes for children from Mondays to Thursdays, 4pm till 5.15pm, and adult art classes on Tuesdays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Email minicreationskids@outlook.com or call 07469 191376.