Artwork produced by SHP clients has been exhibited at the One Festival of Homelessness for the fourth year running.

A brainchild of ex-homeless artist and campaigner David Tovey, the One Festival brings together works of art in many forms, from theatre and film to sculpture, photography and painting. All the pieces have been created by artists who are or have been homeless.

The SHP artwork on show includes individual pieces by our clients, a ‘housing jenga’ and a large graffiti Bee Mural, created by residents from our young people hostels in Lewisham alongside Blank Walls, a street art collective.

Highlights of the show include a beautiful series of prints from our ‘Art and Nature’ workshops - created by residents from our hostel in Camden Town.

The residents worked on the project over a two-month period this summer, using nature to inspire and create the pieces. Vegetables were used to create natural dyes and participants harnessed the power of the sun to help put together the pieces.

“The clients truly enjoyed the ‘Art and Nature’ sessions throughout the summer. Being able to work outside using natural items helped create a peaceful environment for them to flourish” says Toni, the support assistant who led the sessions.

“The different techniques we used meant you wouldn’t know what the pieces would look like until the end. This created a real excitement and positive atmosphere all round. It was a joy to be involved!”

Meghan O’Malley, SHP’s Arthouse Project Manager, said: “I’m delighted that our clients’ talent will once again be exhibited at the One Festival.”

“The workshops we hold are incredibly successful. We focus on the clients’ engagement and the art processes rather than the final piece itself. However, the final pieces on show are truly beautiful and the clients are so proud their work will be exhibited after working so hard to create it.”

The One Festival opened on Thursday 10 October at 5pm to celebrate World Homelessness Day at the Old Diorama Arts Centre near Euston. Find out more here.