Seeds of Hope Exhibition
Local artist ANNA WATERS sent us this article and photographs on a fantastic inclusive project she is involved in at the VC Gallery in Pembroke Dock…
An inspiring new exhibition in Pembroke Dock is shining a light on the powerful connection between creativity, nature and wellbeing. The Seeds of Hope exhibition, hosted by the VC Gallery, celebrates the creative journeys of participants who took part in the collaborative Seeds of Hope project throughout autumn 2025.
The display brings together their work alongside contributions from the wider VC Gallery community and several renowned artists who have previously supported the work of the VC, such as Nina Camplin, Angie Mantle, Richard Blacklaw-Jones, Nicola Beattie and our very own Snorklefish.
The Seeds of Hope project began in October 2025, inviting anyone who wished to take part, to find creative inspiration during short walks in nature. Over ten sessions, participants embraced autumn, a season synonymous with seeding and transformation, using seeds and their host plants as metaphors for nurturing new creative skills.
Unlike traditional exhibitions focused on polished final pieces, this exhibition highlights something deeper: process. Visitors will encounter works in progress, first experiments with unfamiliar techniques, photographs documenting the journey, and thoughtful reflections exploring whether the project genuinely met its aim of enhancing participants’ wellbeing. Accessibility and sustainability were central to the project.
Participants experimented with paper and clay, explored monoprinting techniques, created and used charcoal from willow grown at the Gallery’s Dig for Victory site, engaged in land art in Milford Woods, and crafted Christmas wreaths from foraged materials. The approach is grounded in evidence.
Decades of research demonstrate the wellbeing benefits of both creative activity and time spent in nature. The project was also shaped by the New Economics Foundation’s Five Ways to Wellbeing; connect, learn, give, take notice and be active, ensuring each session fostered meaningful engagement.
Feedback gathered by Pobl Tir Môr is also displayed at the exhibition, showing just how successful this project was in achieving its many wellbeing objectives. The collaboration brought together the expertise of the VC Gallery, Pobl Tir Môr and freelance visual artist Anna Waters.
The project was further enriched by Chris Elliot of Buzzard Bushcraft, who led the charcoal-making process, and National Park Rangers Sandy Hill and Libby Higgins, who shared their extensive knowledge of the natural world.
Libby Higgins also introduced participants to the lyrical Welsh names of many plants encountered along the way. The organisers extend heartfelt thanks to Arts Council of Wales for funding this multi-disciplined project, and to every contributor but most especially to the project participants themselves: Through shared experience, outdoor exploration and creative risk-taking, they embraced the opportunity to be active, take notice, learn new skills, support one another and strengthen connections. In doing so, Seeds of Hope has grown into something far greater than an exhibition; it is a testament to the transformative power of creativity rooted in nature.
The exhibition is at the VC Gallery, Britannia Road, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6PD, until 16 March, at the following times: Mondays 1pm-4pm, Tuesdays 11am-4pm, Wednesdays 12:30-4pm, Thursdays 11am-4pm, Fridays 10am-1pm.
