Holly Sandiford

Holly is an artist, creative health practitioner and researcher who has been working for over 25 years across arts, wellbeing, community and heritage, often with people who don’t always feel that cultural spaces are for them. Alongside that, she has her own visual practice which explores connection to nature through sensory and material-based processes.

Holly’s practice sits across two areas that feed into each other. She explores the relationship between people and the natural world,  using analogue and cameraless photography, sound, and plant-based processes, where materials like soil, plants and light act as collaborators in the work. A lot of this work is about slowing down, noticing, and creating spaces where people can reconnect, both with nature and with themselves.

Alongside that, she works with groups, designing and facilitating projects where people can explore creativity in a way that feels safe, open and led by them. That work is grounded in care, trust and listening. The two parts are closely connected. The way she works with materials, pace and attention in my her own practice directly shapes how she works with groups.