Earlier this year, talented artists from across Scotland put their creativity to work in Draw Home, our art competition celebrating the meaning of home while raising vital funds for Make It Your Own – Impact Arts’ tenancy sustainment programme supporting people at risk of homelessness in Renfrewshire.

After an incredible response and a public vote, illustrator Reilly was crowned our 2026 Draw Home winner with her beautifully detailed coloured pencil artwork, capturing a warm and welcoming hedgehog family home inspired by the classic storybooks many of us grew up with.

We caught up with Reilly to hear more about her journey back to art, the inspiration behind her winning piece, what “home” means to her, and why creativity continues to play such an important role in her life. From rediscovering her passion after changing career paths to encouraging others to embrace their own creativity, her story is a wonderful reminder of the life-changing power of making art.

Can you tell us more about you and how you first became interested in art?

So, I study illustration in Glasgow at the City of Glasgow College, but am originally from Edinburgh, and while recently I have committed myself to an artistic pursuit, it really was not that way for a long time. It was originally my older sister who taught me to draw, showing me Manga characters for the first time when we were young girls, and I continued drawing as a hobby throughout school, but it was the creative restrictions and discipline that came alongside studying Fine Art at Nat 5 and Higher that put me off creating art for a long time. It is sad to say, but I had quite a negative experience in high school with studying art, and so I went off to University to study something much more academic and boring. After three years of that though, I thankfully saw sense and realised that my consistent C-level coursework might mean that I was made for more artistic pursuits.

What kind of artwork do you like the most/specialise in?

This piece of work is actually quite a good representation of my artwork and style of drawing. I love to work with coloured pencil in large-scale drawings – the original piece is A3 in size, and I chose to make it thus so that I could squeeze in as much homely detail as possible. I am constantly inspired by children’s artwork and tend to always have a child audience in mind as I am drawing, even if it is not intentional. I am a nanny for small children alongside my studies, and that up-close observation of these children and their families is always inspiring me in my artwork; it makes me want to draw what inspires them, what entertains them and what they interact with daily.

How did you first learn about Impact Arts?

I am very grateful to have extremely helpful tutors at my college who are always encouraging us to enter different competitions or get involved with volunteering positions. One of them emailed all of us with the details of the ‘Draw Home’ competition, where I was drawn in by such an inspiring company with a real heart for community.

What made you decide to enter the Draw Home art competition?

My entire life changed in many ways when I decided to leave University and study something I was more passionate about at college instead, and one of the biggest mindset changes I have sought is that ‘it can’t hurt… what is the worst that could happen?’ With that mindset, I entered the Draw Home competition believing that I had no chance of winning, but it could not hurt to try.

Can you tell us about your winning piece? (E.g. What was the inspiration behind it? How did you create it? What do you hope people think when they see it? Etc.)

This drawing was a labour of love, taking me about three months to complete. It pays homage to all of the classic animal tales that we all grew up loving: the E.H. Shepard drawings of Winnie the Pooh and The Wind in the Willows; the Beatrix Potter worlds; the original Pauline Baynes drawings of Mr and Mrs Beavers’ house in the Narnia stories. These and so many more films and books inspired in me a love for that type of home that is so full of stuff that the everyday life just seems to be spilling out of it in the most unashamed and glorious way. I wanted this little hedgehog mother to be caught in a moment that was for her, a mundane moment of routine, but for us as the viewer we are being allowed a brief peek into her family home where the hearth is always warm, the pantry always brimming and a hedgehog mother’s hug is never more than five minutes away.

How did you feel when you found out the public had voted your artwork as the winner?

More than ever, I felt so supported by the community around me. I am so fortunate to have friends and family who were as eager to vote for me as they were. It was so awesome to see my artwork alongside work that I thought looked incredible and was so well made and to have mine chosen over theirs was an honour.

The theme of this art competition was ‘home’ and entry fees went towards Make It Your Own, our tenancy sustainment programme preventing homelessness in Renfrewshire. What does ‘home’ mean to you?

Home for me has always been paramount in the way that I express my creativity and seek comfort. It is a place where I have total control over what it looks like, feels like, sounds like, even smells like and it is such a privilege to be able to have that kind of control over an entire space. Home is a place where I have the freedom to create a space that reflects my personality in an entirely material way, where I get to turn creative thoughts into physical pieces of me.

Our mission at Impact Arts is about transforming lives through creativity. What does art and creativity mean to you? Why is it important?

Right now, art is something that I am coming back to slowly. After years of putting it to the side to pursue what I thought I wanted, I am rediscovering it again. My creativity is driving me to explore new methods, tools and techniques that, if I am honest, turn out rubbish 90% of the time, but I am learning to be okay with that too again. That has definitely been the hardest part of this process, but I really try not to let it get to me, as every artist will tell you that is what it’s all about: trying something new again and again, hoping that it might turn out somewhat cool. And on the rare occasion when it does, that is the best feeling in the world.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about exploring art and creativity? What would your words of encouragement be?

Don’t try to separate your creative self from the parts of your life that seem as though there is no room for expression. If you have an ounce of creativity in you, nurture it so that it spills into every area of your life, to parts where you never thought art could be made. Use what is around you and make something weird, something rubbish, but something new.

You can view more of Reilly’s artwork on their Instagram page: @smileyreillyyy_

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

Our Edinburgh Make it Your Own team are having an Open Day at our new office in St Margaret’s House on Friday 14th February.

Come along between 2pm-4pm and find out about our Make
It Your Own, creative tenancy sustainment project for Care
Experienced young people aged 16-25 in Edinburgh. Our artists offer one-to-one and group creative sessions, where participants take part in workshops on interior design, decorating and making items for their home. The aim is that those in new tenancies will gain new practical skills and make their new home somewhere that reflects their personality and feels truly theirs.

You’ll get the chance to explore the Impact Arts office, take part in fun creative
activities, speak to the Make It Your Own and Impact Arts teams and find out
more about the incredible, free opportunities available for young people
throughout Edinburgh. You will also get the chance to make something for your
home with our interior design team!

A great opportunity for you, your colleagues and/or young people
to find out more about Impact Arts programmes and get involved in workshops.

Refreshments will be provided.

Date -14th February

Time – 2pm-4pm

Location –

St Margaret’s House

B103-104, 151 London Road

Edinburgh, EH7 6AE

If you are interested in coming along, please contact gillian.pettigrew@impactarts.co.uk

We are sharing stories from our CEYP Make It Your Own
projects this week as part of Care Experienced Week. MIYO CEYP is tenancy
sustainment project for care experienced young people that Impact Arts runs in
Glasgow, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Renfrewshire.

Sabrina has been attending our make it your own programme
and has really enjoyed upcycling furniture and making different pieces to help
make her house feel more homely.

The first thing Sabrina decided to make was a canvas
inspired by her favourite band, 5 Seconds of Summer. She painted her canvas
black then projected symbols on to it and drew them in, in pencil. Using a gold
posca paint pen she then coloured in the symbols.

Sabrina has chosen a black, pink and gold theme for her room
and is now upcycling furniture in these colours. She chose different furniture
pieces to help her maximise storage. She has covered an ottoman with pink
velvet and black woven wool which is going to be used as storage for her books and
a seat to sit and read on.

Sabrina said; “When I moved into my first home, all of the
furniture was bought for me, it didn’t feel like my own taste. This project is
helping me make my house more of a home. I’m putting stuff that I want in.
Making my bedroom somewhere that I want to spend time. That is important for my
mental health.

“I love my canvas I’m so proud of myself for making that
canvas. I’ve got to use machinery I’ve not been able to use before. I’ve got a
lot more done than I thought I would since being here, I’ve started to paint my
room at home which has been needing done for years!

I would recommend this program to other care experienced
young people.”

MIYO Creative Assistant, Hannah said; “Sabrina has lots of
great creative ideas and is really ambitious. She is great company always
chatty and usually singing. She is really keen to learn new skills with the technical
equipment.”

If you or someone you know is interested in joining one of
our CEYP
MIYO projects in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Edinburgh or Ayrshire then get in
touch today to find out more.

Make It Your Own is a project run by Impact Arts helping Care
Experienced Young People to make soft furnishings and consider the interior
design of their own homes.

Moving towards independent living is a key life transition
for individuals of any age and background, but for care-experienced young
people this transition can be particularly challenging and unsettling. Care
experienced young people are more likely to struggle as they transition into
adulthood, are at greater risk of homelessness, and have difficultly accessing
the right housing options, sustaining a tenancy and ultimately making a home
for themselves.

Through the project we aim to encourage creativity and DIY
projects and help the young people realise their vision for their homes.

One young person who is part of the project in Renfrewshire
is Candice. In her first session Candice began making a canvas to hang in her living
room. One of her favourite Musicians is Prince. She looked up a photo collage
online, and used the projector to project an image of Prince onto a round
canvas. She then drew round this and painted it black.

Candice said; “Making the canvas has inspired me. It’s given
me something to focus on. Coming here gets me out the house, and I feel myself
again.”

“Sitting doing the
drawing really calms me. My support worker has said that since coming to the
project she recognises the old, happy me, rather than the me who was unwell.”

Candice has also upcycled her bedside cabinets from plain
white to a brilliant white with a spray painted paisley pattern and silver
handles. She hand cut a stencil using a craft knife and cutting mat then laid
the stencil over it and sprayed through it with spray paint.

MIYO Creative Assistant, Hannah said; “Candice has grown in confidence
since coming here as she realises what is possible to make and what she is
capable of. She is really excited about getting the furniture pieces home. It’s
been so nice getting to know Candice, she works on her projects with a lot of
focus and care. She has great original ideas.”

Participants on our MIYO project learn skills like sewing,
woodworking, upcycling, canvas art, painting, decorating and more. The
programme also includes a shopping budget plus inspiration trips.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining one of our
MIYO projects in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Edinburgh or Ayrshire then get in touch
today to find out more.

We are delighted to have secured Young Start funding from the National Lottery Community Fund for our creative tenancy sustainment project Make it Your Own!

Young Start has pledged £90,149 over three years to work with care-experienced young people in Edinburgh, Glasgow, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.

Our artists will be offering one-to-one and group creative sessions with young people aged 14-25 who have experience of fostering, kinship care or residential care.

Participants will take part in workshops on interior design, decorating and making items for those home.

The aim is that those in new tenancies will gain new practical skills and make their new home somewhere that reflects their personality and feels truly theirs.

For more about recently-announced Young Start funding, please visit their website.

 

Impact Arts is delighted to announce that their Fab Pad Renfrewshire project was highly commended in partnership with Renfrewshire Council’s Throughcare service. The organisations won the ‘Innovative Partnership’ Award at a ceremony on 12.06.13.

Impact Arts were running a live two-day up-cycle as part of the CELSIS Resource Centre Exhibition and Awards Ceremony that took place at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on 12th and 13th of June. The conference provided a venue to discuss and debate important local, national and international perspectives on some of the most creative and exciting aspects of contemporary residential child care practice. Impact Arts were showcasing their partnership work with Renfrewshire Council’s Throughcare Service. Through this partnership Impact Arts provide their Fab Pad project to young care leavers who are about to gain their first tenancy.

Fab Pad was set up in 1998 by Impact Arts as an innovative youth housing project. It is a proven method of reducing youth homelessness and youth unemployment. Working with young people who have gained a new tenancy or are at risk of homelessness, interior designers teach essential skills such as sewing, decorating, basic DIY and interior design. This enables young people to transform their house into a home, and helps them develop a sense of ownership and pride which reduces anti-social behaviour and tenancy breakdown. Participants join a local workshop where they work one-to-one with our fully qualified tutors and gain a support network of peers. Alongside a host of technical skills, young tenants also learn transferable skills which enable them to progress in other areas of their lives. SROI documentation suggests that for every £1 invested in Fab Pad there is a social return of £8.38.

Lynne Carr, CEO Impact Arts said:

“We were really pleased with how the ‘Drab to Fab’ live upcycle went, and are delighted to have been highly commended in the Innovative Partnership category with Renfrewshire Throughcare. I would like to give a big thanks to all of our talented staff who were involved in the project, Lynne, Alison and Kirsty. Well done for your hard work ladies! Hopefully the live up-cycle gave people a chance to learn more about the Fab Pad project and to see first-hand how effective it is in engaging young care leavers and enabling them to turn their house into a home.”