A Flying Fish Artists group member sits at a table in Barnstaple Library holding up a long, folding art piece decorated with colourful Zentangle-style patterns and drawings. A mug, art materials and craft supplies are on the table, with the library’s creative space visible in the background.
, 3 min

Flying Fish

Flying Fish Artists is a local North Devon charity for adults aged 18 years and upwards which aims to support mental and physical wellbeing through creativity in the community. They enjoy a warm welcome at Barnstaple Library every Thursday from 10am to 1pm, as well as running a weekly studio session at The Castle Centre in Barnstaple.  

The group has also been involved in the library’s annual FunPalaces, taking part in the first year and leading the whole event in the second. FunPalaces is a day of creativity in which people share their skills in art, music, crafts and other creative skills to anyone who wants to explore a new hobby. Member of Flying Fish have led fun workshops on everything from Zentangle – mindful colouring – to craft projects.  

Flying Fish has also been involved in the Our Freedom: Then and Now project, run by Future Arts Centres (FAC) to mark the 80th anniversary of the Second World War in 2025. Led by FAC in partnership with Libraries Connected and supported by Arts Council England, Libraries Unlimited is one of 60 libraries and art centres taking part across the UK. Residents, artists, veterans and groups including Flying Fish were asked to reflect on what freedom means today. 

Group members Bonny, Carol, Jason, Sandy, Karen, Carol K, Donald, Claire, Hayley and Brenda said:

“When we were offered a time and space for Flying Fish Artists to do art each week in the library we never imagined the immense benefit we would receive .The library is now a safe place for us to share our art and help reduce the stigma around mental health. It really helps to reduce loneliness, social exclusion, anxiety and depression. It has enabled us to participate and benefit from lots of other projects hosted at the library, collaborating with North Devon Arts, Athena Jane Churchill, Mary Tozer and Joseph Witchall. Truly the library has widened our horizons. People have told us that coming to our group has changed their lives and help them be something bigger than themselves. You have given us such an amazing gift……thank you.”

Barnstaple Library Senior Supervisor Jane Petch said:

“It’s been such a pleasure getting to know all the Flying Fish and seeing how much they have grown to love the library space. Many of them hadn’t been in a library for years and now have the confidence to attend many other library events and activities. The group are always so willing to welcome visitors to join them and share the love and comfort they get from their art. The Flying Fish are so well thought of now that they are North Devon Arts go-to group for any project they are running including Projection Barnstaple, Barnstaple Blue, and Folklore Tales. They also played an instrumental part in the Libraries Unlimited Our Freedom project. We love their gentle creative presence on a Thursday – it’s what our library foyer was made for.”

Stella Levy, Chair of North Devon Arts, added:

“Over the last three years, North Devon Arts has run a variety of free workshops in Barnstaple Library that have included working with the Flying Fish Artists. It has been a joy working alongside them and building a relationship with this friendly, bonded, group. Their sheer enjoyment of creating art shines through and watching them develop their artistic skills is inspirational. We find our artists and volunteers get as much out of these sessions as the group itself!”