Holt Festival 2024 German Expressionism and the Third Reich a one day workshop inspired by the exhibition.
'How wonderful to have that kind of exhibition available as a resource - and in a small Norfolk market Town!.
Such a privilege also, to have Curator James Glennie as our personal guide through the show itself, framing our responses and questions with expert knowledge; so illuminating, and I felt that what he was able to share really gave us foundation for our later discussion and explorations. It's a slippery cultural movement to try to grasp - such a variety of stylistic techniques and inputs!'
David Redfield. Poet.
Holt Festival 2022. Craxton-Picasso a one day workshop inspired by the exhibition.
'Thank you for such an engaging day on Wednesday. I reflected on what we covered and it was a lot but without feeling overwhelmed.' JS.
Creative Progression is ideal for anyone with faltering creative direction, tripped up by Covid lock downs and struggling to get their focus and creative thrust back. or anyone who is blocked, thwarted, unfocused, time-poor or overwhelmed but determined to make a decisive step forward with their writing or art.
These two workshops separated over a period of six weeks (allowing time to take action and progress) will drive your creative practice forward, re-energise and activate your momentum with a clear vision, crystallising your ambitions and turn them into a realistic, timely, achievable plan. For booking details and dates see my blog page.
'I achieved more in the months following these workshops than I have done in years.' JK
'Creatively energising.' GF
'Fascinating, inspiring and very encouraging.' Mandy Rogers
Mentoring
'Patricia's skilful coaching has helped not only my writing, built my self confidence and capacity to juggle the complicated circumstances of my present situation in life. Her experience in business and life and her organisational talent are offered in a non-judgemental way combining humour and a fellow feeling for her mentee.' Molly Barratt.
Meetings with Patricia have helped me focus, prioritise, time manage and stay on track. The discussions we have had had revolved around preparing for a planned exhibition, in which I had set out to explore a relation between the visual and my recent ventures into writing. Patricia is an ideal person to help with this, as she is an artist and a writer.
As well as valuing her experienced and more detached eye and great practical help in establishing a framework and timetable for various tasks, my experience of our meetings was one of bouncing ideas around - a kind of collaborative journey, which felt exciting, and creative in itself. Patricia has been an affirming presence. She takes what I am trying to do seriously, does not allow self effacing apologies for the work, and gives clear constructive feed back about ideas and particular details of written work. This has helped me take it seriously, and to commit to the work, even when I am feeling very unsure about it. Patricia is also a mine of information about museums, creative resources and a very skilled writing tutor/facilitator. In short, these mentoring sessions have been immensely helpful. Mandy Rogers.
Fictional Narratives - Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts
It has been such a pleasure to spend time with people who love words, I have learnt such a lot from all the members of the group. Being able to share ideas and the writing process, from early scratchings, through editing and then to the final piece has been enlightening. I have loved being introduced to new published authors as well and to discover a new world of short stories that I have never explored before. Using the collection of art pieces has been inspirational to me as well. I didn’t know the Sainsbury Centre before this group began but I think it will become a favourite place and may well inspire more of my writing ideas. Each week I have got to know it a little better.
Lisa Hurcum
The Narrative Fiction course was an outstanding introduction to the art of writing. Patricia's well planned lessons and gentle guiding hand have fostered a renewed interest in the written word. Grateful thanks. Penny Whyte.
I really looked forward to our weekly meetings. Patricia set a very constructive tone from the very beginning and a very good group meant that the sessions were both productive and thought provoking. KS
I thought it was very well designed, and richly layered course. The structure was really helpful, and the teaching style was warm, supportive and very informative. There was a nice balance between encouragement and challenge, and we were all accommodated. Every session was lively, stimulating and very enjoyable, inspiring us to go off and try things on our own. MR
I found the course enjoyable and yet at the same time quite demanding. Patricia always commented on everything we wrote and her helpful comments, ideas and criticism was invaluable. I think whether you want to just come on the course to explore whether you are able to write or if you are already a writer and want to improve your writing skills then this course would be ideal for you. MC
It is interesting how having attended your weekly session with a fortnightly demand for writing to share really made it happen. It was a very positive experience and I am certainly missing the regularity of those get-togethers as well as the variety of helpful comments from all the others which helped to fine tune ones writing. All very helpful. Claudia Lambert. Claudia went on to be shortlisted for the 2017 Escalator Award - Writers Centre Norwich
'How wonderful to have that kind of exhibition available as a resource - and in a small Norfolk market Town!.
Such a privilege also, to have Curator James Glennie as our personal guide through the show itself, framing our responses and questions with expert knowledge; so illuminating, and I felt that what he was able to share really gave us foundation for our later discussion and explorations. It's a slippery cultural movement to try to grasp - such a variety of stylistic techniques and inputs!'
David Redfield. Poet.
Holt Festival 2022. Craxton-Picasso a one day workshop inspired by the exhibition.
'Thank you for such an engaging day on Wednesday. I reflected on what we covered and it was a lot but without feeling overwhelmed.' JS.
Creative Progression is ideal for anyone with faltering creative direction, tripped up by Covid lock downs and struggling to get their focus and creative thrust back. or anyone who is blocked, thwarted, unfocused, time-poor or overwhelmed but determined to make a decisive step forward with their writing or art.
These two workshops separated over a period of six weeks (allowing time to take action and progress) will drive your creative practice forward, re-energise and activate your momentum with a clear vision, crystallising your ambitions and turn them into a realistic, timely, achievable plan. For booking details and dates see my blog page.
'I achieved more in the months following these workshops than I have done in years.' JK
'Creatively energising.' GF
'Fascinating, inspiring and very encouraging.' Mandy Rogers
Mentoring
'Patricia's skilful coaching has helped not only my writing, built my self confidence and capacity to juggle the complicated circumstances of my present situation in life. Her experience in business and life and her organisational talent are offered in a non-judgemental way combining humour and a fellow feeling for her mentee.' Molly Barratt.
Meetings with Patricia have helped me focus, prioritise, time manage and stay on track. The discussions we have had had revolved around preparing for a planned exhibition, in which I had set out to explore a relation between the visual and my recent ventures into writing. Patricia is an ideal person to help with this, as she is an artist and a writer.
As well as valuing her experienced and more detached eye and great practical help in establishing a framework and timetable for various tasks, my experience of our meetings was one of bouncing ideas around - a kind of collaborative journey, which felt exciting, and creative in itself. Patricia has been an affirming presence. She takes what I am trying to do seriously, does not allow self effacing apologies for the work, and gives clear constructive feed back about ideas and particular details of written work. This has helped me take it seriously, and to commit to the work, even when I am feeling very unsure about it. Patricia is also a mine of information about museums, creative resources and a very skilled writing tutor/facilitator. In short, these mentoring sessions have been immensely helpful. Mandy Rogers.
Fictional Narratives - Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts
It has been such a pleasure to spend time with people who love words, I have learnt such a lot from all the members of the group. Being able to share ideas and the writing process, from early scratchings, through editing and then to the final piece has been enlightening. I have loved being introduced to new published authors as well and to discover a new world of short stories that I have never explored before. Using the collection of art pieces has been inspirational to me as well. I didn’t know the Sainsbury Centre before this group began but I think it will become a favourite place and may well inspire more of my writing ideas. Each week I have got to know it a little better.
Lisa Hurcum
The Narrative Fiction course was an outstanding introduction to the art of writing. Patricia's well planned lessons and gentle guiding hand have fostered a renewed interest in the written word. Grateful thanks. Penny Whyte.
I really looked forward to our weekly meetings. Patricia set a very constructive tone from the very beginning and a very good group meant that the sessions were both productive and thought provoking. KS
I thought it was very well designed, and richly layered course. The structure was really helpful, and the teaching style was warm, supportive and very informative. There was a nice balance between encouragement and challenge, and we were all accommodated. Every session was lively, stimulating and very enjoyable, inspiring us to go off and try things on our own. MR
I found the course enjoyable and yet at the same time quite demanding. Patricia always commented on everything we wrote and her helpful comments, ideas and criticism was invaluable. I think whether you want to just come on the course to explore whether you are able to write or if you are already a writer and want to improve your writing skills then this course would be ideal for you. MC
It is interesting how having attended your weekly session with a fortnightly demand for writing to share really made it happen. It was a very positive experience and I am certainly missing the regularity of those get-togethers as well as the variety of helpful comments from all the others which helped to fine tune ones writing. All very helpful. Claudia Lambert. Claudia went on to be shortlisted for the 2017 Escalator Award - Writers Centre Norwich
Creative Catalyst 2013 - Images/feedback
Creative chat in the meadow
We enjoyed a wonderful creative day here at Meadow Cottage on Saturday. It was the first time that the meadow, gardens and studio has been used for a workshop
since I moved here three months ago. The day began with a creative forage in the meadow and summerhouse. Surprising inspirations and interventions were collected and brought back to the studio for creative play.. Tracey Ross demonstrated unusual techniques used in her landscape and seascape paintings; these included working with plaster, linen scrim and acrylic paint and wax crayons. After a fine pot-luck lunch on the terrace, the group assembled in the conservatory where the foraged words and artefacts formed the basis of individual short fiction, with digressions into structure and writing forms. The day concluded with creative chat over tea, lemon cake and raspberry muffins in the meadow on a perfect English summers day. Bliss.
Comments on the Creative Catalyst workshop.
'Like a lovely shower in creative renewal and inspiration - a great experience.' Kathryn
'This course on creative art and creative writing was very successful in introducing me to the world of acrylic, crayons and to the world of short stories. I'd love a follow up.' Chris
'The magic location is an inspiring space. Quiet spots to really reflect and allow thoughts to flow.' Leslie
'This course is really enlightening, unique and highly enjoyable, we all got a lot from it - without exception! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us, my mind has been completely blown away.' Jane
'Patricia Mullin is an inspired teacher. I joined her short Creative Writing Course this spring, partly because I have always wanted to write but also because I was slightly at a loose end. I found it very inspiring and enabling; I now write every day and look forward impatiently to another opportunity to join the group and to Patricia's insightful guidance and encouragement.'
Amanda Radford. Creative Spring participant.
'Patricia takes you deep within the spirit of place on a creative journey.......prepare to be accompanied and set free, challenged, supported and enthused. Patricia brings a unique combination of skills with both words and visual imagery - together with well honed teaching skills and a fantastic rapport with students of diverse backgrounds, ages and abilities. An inspiring, original and popular course tutor, she delivered the very sucessful " Voices from the Cathedral " creative writing project for Norwich Cathedral, culminating in a published anthology of students' work.... in doing so she opened up the creative power of place and the potential of students within it.'
Jill Napier, Community Learning Officer, Norwich Cathedral (retired).
'I signed up for the Creative Writing Course at Norwich Cathedral as a complete beginner to creative writing. With a lifelong passion for books, I had always wondered whether perhaps I too could manage to write. Those early days at the Cathedral were daunting, especially when, with my heart in my mouth, it was my turn to share my writing with the group. However, I persisted, gaining confidence as well as enjoyment in expressing myself in writing. I also found great joy in the research which goes into any piece of writing and it has taken me along many fascinating byways. I am grateful to have learned so much from the sensitive guidance of Patricia, our tutor and a very special group of fellow writers on the course. When the Cathedral course ended after two years, I continued, together with some other course members, with the spin off writing group, Ex Cathedra. During my second year of the Cathedral course, and encouraged by Patricia, I embarked on a novel. Eighteen months down the line, after many ups and downs, it is now nearing completion.'
Brenda Daggers, creative writing student.
'Having the chance to use the Cathedral in connection with making a piece of art work was and opportunity not to be missed. Under Patricia’s relaxed and knowledgeable guidance I felt free to explore both the building and a variety of techniques. My eyes were always drawn down to the paving and the inscriptions commemorating the dead. The worn paving spoke of generations of men and women who had walked through the Cathedral and I sought out those referring to women-daughters, sisters, wives and mothers. I experimented with the results and used the photographs as a base over which I layered references to the women named in the memorials. The layers of semi-opaque paper are symbolic of the lives of these women but also echo the layers of stone worn away by pilgrims over hundreds of years.'
Juliet Nicholls, Cathedral Open Studio art student.
'Patricia was a supportive and enthusiastic tutor who gave me sound advice and encouragement. She made me feel immediately welcome when I joined the already well-established Cathedral group. Her energy and drive saw the completion of an anthology with a cover design taken from her specially created piece of artwork.'
Claire Riviere, creative writing student.
'Patricia is single-handedly responsible for getting me started with creative writing. After my retirement a few years ago, participation in her cathedral-based short story classes introduced me to her sensitive, thoughtful and inclusive pedagogy. Then and since, I have found her blend of honest response with support and encouragement to be just what I have needed to make progress.'
Graham Porter, creative writing student
More about teaching and creative workshops
I have taught in many diverse settings, ranging from challenging inner city comprehensives in London, to Norwich Cathedral, Cambridge University, The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts UEA, Wells Maltings, Groundwork Gallery, the Julian Shrine, HM Prison Norwich and a group containing organic farmers in South Norfolk. Some of my students are complete beginners, others have writing, publishing and workshop experience, a few already have a creative writing degree behind them. Students have progressed to study degree and MA courses; others have gone on to win local and national writing competitions. All have benefited from the camaraderie of the 'writing family' that develops through the close analysis of text, and support within the group. Criticism is constructive, clear and supportive. You leave the course with a writing tool kit, participants learn not only from critiques of their own writing and one another, but also from closely studying the texts of highly regarded authors.
I have been fortunate to work on projects that enrich the creative lives of the vulnerable, marginalised and the excluded; and I have taught students who range in age from eleven years to ninety-two. I also have a special interest in reminiscence and the use of art, text and story in stimulating recollection, accessing memory and aiding inter-generational communication. I am passionate about writing and love teaching.
The header image was created by Juliet Nicholls - Open Studio student: using the memorials on the floor of the Cathedral cloister and nave, Juliet overlaid images of text, using tracing paper, torn paper and calligraphy from a number of graves and memorials.