An artist is helping the people of Salford improve their mental health problems through the power of painting and drawing.

Krista-Ann Nield, 32, graduated from University of Salford last year, and as now has opened a creative community hub called ‘Made Up North’ in Irlam.

The hub, which offers courses for children and adults for a small fee, aims to end social isolation in the city and help people that suffer from mental health problems.

Mrs Nield said: “Made Up North is a community place where people can relax, try something new and challenge themselves.

“Anyone can join, we have people that painted for years come as they can meet new people and its stopping isolation in the area.”

Photo provided by Krista-Ann Nield

Mrs Nield said: “The shop came about because I suffered from depression, whilst I was in university my art work kept me going, so I wanted to give something back to the community as there is nothing in this area like that.

“I wanted to give the community the access to what I had, not everyone can go to college and university as they have commitments.”

Anyone can come and join, Mrs Nield added: “I work with GCSE students to help them with their studies, we do adult drawing classes, and I also work with children. We also are looking at other cultures, so we are learning without actually realsing that we are.”

The hub, is also beneficial for people that are suffering from mental health problems.

Mrs Nield is not making a wage from the hub and she had expressed that: “The fees for the classes I keep as low as I possibly can, I have groups that meet up for coffee or they go to the museums together, that for me is a reward.”

Around 50 people come to he hub on the regular basis, but some people come when they find the time.

One of the hub’s customers Leanne Waring said: “The hub is a lovely friendly helpful place, that helped me with my art work and helping me to get out nothing is to much trouble. Really loving it and so happy how much my work has come on showing me different ways of doing my art work.”

For the future Mrs Nield hopes to expand the shop and open another hub elsewhere in Salford, as well as she wants to get more volunteers involved.

For more information go to the website: https://www.kristanield.com/

Lewis Atherton contributed to this report 

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