On Our Travels – Getting Giddy in the Gallery
Heather & Debbie were invited to donate a piece of artwork to Cooper Gallery for the auction to be held in June 2023 as a fundraising event.
We were both delighted and thrilled just to be asked, so it was an absolute pleasure to create paintings to donate to such a great community cause.
At the time, neither of us had realised how prestigious the event was going to be and that we would be showcasing it in the gallery.
Visiting the gallery this week was so exciting, and we were quite giddy just to see them hanging in the Sadler room amongst some amazing, talented artists. This was a truly magical experience.
We were so glad to have the room to ourselves to view and share the warm and fuzzy feeling it gave us and think about how far we have come on our painting journey for the wellness journey.
Giddy in Cooper Gallery
Local artists support the Cooper Gallery fundraising auction
On Friday, 24 June 2023 the Cooper Gallery hosted a special fundraising event to raise essential money to preserve and conserve key pieces from their outstanding art collection.
The collection, which included work by Bell, Ruskin and Turner, was gifted to the borough by Barnsley collector and philanthropist Samuel Joshua Cooper.
The evening, organised by The Cooper Trustees and hosted by the Bard of Barnsley – Ian McMillan, and Pierre Maciag, from Wilbys Estate Agents, offers visitors a unique opportunity to bid on a selection of spectacular treasures.
It included over eighty, highly sought-after pieces including prints, books, ceramics, music, exclusive events, sculptures and jewellery, all donated by artists, and are being auctioned off to help support the worthy cause.
Work by artist Graham Ibbeson, whose latest exhibition will shortly be arriving at the Gallery in July, will be included in the auction as well as tickets to an exclusive VIP performance by the phenomenal Barnsley Youth Choir.
Councillor Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place, said:
“We would like to thank the Cooper Trustees and all the local artists who have donated pieces and tickets to support this important event. The Cooper collection is well regarded and a real asset to the borough, the money raised will help conserve artwork to be enjoyed and appreciated by generations to come. We are lucky to have such an outstanding art collection in Barnsley and the Cooper Gallery is determined to showcase it for all to see.
The event was held at 6 pm on Friday, 24 June 2023 and was free to enter.
Arts, Museums and Archives, Culture and Housing Place, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Copyright © 2025, Art for Wellness
Debbie & Heather – originally published 2023
Creative art for all ages and abilities. – Let’s share the beauty of creativity
Looking Back…
As we reflect on this experience three years later, one thing stands out more than anything else…
Neither of us felt “good enough.”
We both questioned whether our artwork belonged in a gallery alongside such talented and established artists. We wondered if people would like our work, whether it was worthy, and whether we should even say yes.
But we did it anyway.
And we’re so grateful we did.
That one invitation became a milestone in our creative journey. It reminded us that opportunities don’t come because you’re perfect—they come because someone sees something in you that you might not yet see in yourself.
Heather says:
“I never imagined one of my paintings would be displayed in a gallery. I doubted myself so much, but seeing it hanging there gave me confidence that has stayed with me ever since. I’m so glad I didn’t let fear stop me.”
Debbie says:
“I’ve learned that courage isn’t about feeling confident; it’s about taking the step anyway. If I’d waited until I believed I was good enough, I would have missed one of the proudest moments of my creative life.”
So, if you’re ever thinking about entering an exhibition, applying for an opportunity, or simply sharing your creativity with the world…
Believe in yourself, even if it’s only a tiny bit.
Your creativity deserves to be seen.
You never know where one brave “yes” might take you.
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs begin with the smallest act of courage.
✨ Have a go. Enter the exhibition. Submit your artwork. Share your creativity. The worst that can happen is someone says no. The best? You might surprise yourself and discover you belonged there all along. 💜
It All Began in 2021…
Our Cooper Gallery journey didn’t begin in 2023—it actually started two years earlier, during one of the most challenging periods many of us have ever experienced.
In 2021, while the country was emerging from lockdown, Heather and I decided to be brave and enter The Cooper Prize Open Art Competition. Like so many people at the time, we’d spent months creating from home, finding comfort, purpose and hope through art. Entering the competition felt like a huge step outside our comfort zones.
Neither of us expected our work to be selected.
Seeing our artwork displayed inside the Cooper Gallery for the very first time was an unforgettable moment. It wasn’t about winning awards or recognition—it was about proving to ourselves that we were capable of more than we believed. That single experience gave us the confidence to keep painting, keep learning and keep saying “yes” to new opportunities.
Looking back now, we can see that the seeds of Art for Wellness were already being planted. Every painting, every exhibition and every opportunity has helped shape the creative journey we’re still on today.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this:
You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to be willing to take the first step.
Had we never entered that competition in 2021, we might never have experienced the excitement of returning to the Cooper Gallery in 2023, seeing our work displayed again, and realising just how far we’d come.
Sometimes the smallest act of courage becomes the beginning of something far bigger than you ever imagined. 💜
