About

Penny Downes

Penny Downes has a degree in Graphic Design from Leeds polytechnic. She has been a youth-worker for 20 + years and a Community Learning and Development worker for the last 9 years. 

She set up Hand Pict By Penny in 2011 as she was getting inundated by requests to run creative workshops for children and young people all over North East Scotland. Since then she has steadily built up her artistic business taking on workshops, exhibitions and public art sculpture trails. 

Penny’s Art Clubs in Westhill and Inverurie engage with children from P4 to S1, all are thriving and pretty full.
Look out for exciting new artwork coming soon. Watch out! She is in the creation process!

Penny has worked as an art intervention specialist in primary and secondary schools across Aberdeenshire for the last 9 years. She brings her extensive knowledge and experience of creative engagement with children and young people to challenging, yet rewarding appointments in traditional educational environments. 

Creative Space is her own innovative solution to the restrictions that learning pathways plus can present. Creative Space can be anywhere. A table in a hallway or a corner of the library can become a supportive and nurturing creative environment, with Penny’s own brand of positive, understanding, patience, and enthusiasm. 

Moving forward Penny is working with Social Work in Aberdeenshire to deliver art skills and for relaxation in 1:1 or small groups with young adults on video or in person.