CV
Group Exhibitions
- Metamorphosis Textile Competition (Farfield Mill, Sedbergh, 2026)
- Fables (The Mill Gallery, Leeds, 2026)
- Pride & Protest (The Mill Gallery, Leeds, 2025)
- Leeds Summer Group Show (Leeds Playhouse, 2025)
- Pose (Undercroft Gallery, Norwich, 2025)
- NSUN Virtual Exhibition (online, 2024)
- Trans Pride (The Actors, Brighton, 2024)
- Touchstone Loves the Arts (Leeds, 2023)
Artist Development Programmes
- Resilient Roots (The Mill Gallery, Leeds, 2025-6)
- Mentoring with Jennifer Gilbert (Arts & Health Support Hub, 2025-6)
Poetry publications and performances
- Hope, Joy, Light, Meaning anthology (The Hope Collective, University of Huddersfield Press, 2025)
- Haus-a-Rest zine (Issue 54 – Movement and the Kinetic, 2024)
- Moving Beyond the Binaries of Sex and Gender (University of Leeds, 2016)
- Unity Day (Leeds, 2016)
- Can Ruins Arts Festival (Leeds, 2015)
Education and Qualifications
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (2023, Training Qualifications UK)
- PG Dip Gender, Sexuality and the Body (2016-2019, University of Leeds)
- BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance (2012-2016, University of Leeds)
- Level 2 Developing Researcher Interview Skills and Techniques (2012, OCN)
Employment and Volunteering
- Freelance artist (2019-ongoing)
- Project Placement, Leeds Industrial Museum (2026, Leeds Museums and Galleries)
- Access and Inclusion Volunteer, (2024-2025, Leeds Palestinian Solidarity Campaign)
- Peer Support Worker (2019-2024, Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service/Touchstone)
- Mental Health Support Worker (2022-2023, Connecting Opportunities/Touchstone)
- Peer Support Worker (2021, Leeds Community Pain Service/Touchstone)
- Administrator (2019, Leeds City Council)
- Volunteer (2019, Canopy Housing)
- Volunteer (2018, Local & Family Histories Department at Leeds Central Library)
- Volunteer (2018-2019, Hyde Park Source at Bedford Fields Community Forest Garden)
- Volunteer (2017, House of Flava)
- Freelancer (2017-2019, Inkpact Marketing Ltd.)
- Associate Research Assistant (2009-2012, Centre for Social Action, School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University)
Workshops
I offer workshops in creative writing (poetry and creative non-fiction) and fibre arts (embroidery, fabric painting, cross stitch, etc.). I have many years of experience in workshop facilitation, both within creative settings, as well as mental health services, schools and more.
Whilst my workshops aim to give participants a chance to experiment with their art practice, they also focus on creative wellbeing, fostering community, and trying something new in a safe environment.
Throughout my experience of workshop facilitation, I have worked with diverse communities with varying levels of experience and support needs. This has included adapting workshops for neurodivergent and disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities, older people, refugees, and those from a Global Majority background. My Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills has aided me in my ability to hold space for people, actively listening and adapting
to peoples’ needs.
Examples of workshops I have offered include:
- Creative wellbeing workshops, e.g:
- Using art to find your voice
- Finding your strengths
- Mindfulness (mindful movement, mindfulness in nature, etc.)
- Creative writing and poetry
- Upcycling, sewing and embroidery
- Advocating for yourself in healthcare settings
- Looking after your physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing (peer support, health management, streamlining your life, sleep hygiene, etc.)
- Supporting trans patients in art therapy
As well as working in community centres and health services, I am also keen to work with galleries, museums, libraries and heritage sites, offering bespoke workshops that use the history of buildings, collections and other artists’ work as a starting point for engagement with the public. I believe that art and culture should be accessible to all, and work hard to ensure that others can participate in these landscapes.
Please use my contact form to enquire about prices, suggest collaborations and book me for workshop facilitation. You can read more, and find examples of my work in my portfolio.
Commissions
I am available for both creative writing and fibre art commissions. These can make great gifts for your loved ones, commemorate your favourite place, act as a personal affirmation, or draw attention to an important issue. I have a wealth of experience in creating work on challenging subjects.
Whether it is a poem, an embroidery piece, a blog or a crocheted animal, there is something available for everyone! Rates vary depending on the craft and size of work.
I also offer services in upcycling and visible mending, using a combination of traditional English darning, applique, patchwork, and Boro- and Sashiko-inspired mending.
For mending I offer a sliding scale payment service depending on your income. This ranges from £5-£25 per hour + materials (I only charge for materials if these cannot be sourced from my own stash, as I predominantly work by saving materials from landfill).
Please use my contact form to enquire about prices. Please give as much detail as possible when requesting commissions, as this helps me give you an accurate quote for the work, thanks!
You can find more examples of my work here.
Finn Dobson 