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
- Our Right to Thrive (Disability Arts Online, 2026)
- 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
Dobson offers workshops in visual and fibre arts (embroidery, fabric painting, banner making, etc.) and creative writing (poetry and creative non-fiction) . They have many years of experience in workshop facilitation within creative and community settings, health services, schools and more.
Whilst their workshops aim to give participants a chance to experiment with the arts, they also focus on creative wellbeing, fostering community, and trying something new in a safe environment.
Throughout Dobson’s experience of workshop facilitation, they 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. Finn’s Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills has aided them in their ability to hold space for people, actively listening and adapting
to peoples’ needs. Accessibility is always built into workshop design from the outset.
Examples of workshops they have offered include:
- Embodied Writing (Simply the Zest, 2026)
- Sewing patches with The Hangout (2026)
- Embroidering Left Bank Leeds (Older Wiser Leeds Seniors art group, 2024)
- Creative wellbeing workshops for migrants and refugees with Connecting Opportunities (2022), e.g:
- Finding your strengths with collage
- Mindfulness in nature
- Advocating for ourselves in healthcare settings
- Looking after our physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing (peer support, health management, streamlining your life, sleep hygiene, etc.)
- Supporting trans patients in art therapy (for MA Art Therapy students, 2021)
As well as working in community centres and health services, Finn is 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. They believe that art and culture are transformative experiences that should be accessible to all, and work hard to ensure that others can participate in these landscapes.
Please use the contact form to enquire about prices, suggest collaborations and book Finn for workshop facilitation. You can read more and find examples of their work in their portfolio.
Commissions
Finn is available for creative writing and visual 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. Dobson has 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.
Finn also offers services in upcycling and visible mending, using a combination of traditional English darning, applique, patchwork, and Boro- and Sashiko-inspired mending.
For mending they offer a sliding scale payment service depending on your income. This ranges from £5-£25 per hour + materials.
Please use the contact form to enquire about prices. Please give as much detail as possible when requesting commissions, as this helps Finn give you an accurate quote for the work, thanks!
You can find examples of Dobson’s work and pieces for sale here.
Finn Dobson 