Caroline Shimmons is an Arts Care Artist with the Southern Trust in Newry & Mourne (since September 2023) and works as a dedicated project artist. With over 20 years’ experience as a community artist, she brings a depth of knowledge and commitment to her work across private, educational, and community settings.
She graduated from the University of Salford in 2000 with a degree in Visual Art, specialising in fibre arts and culture. Her practice is grounded in a strong belief in the power of creativity to effect positive social change, using participatory arts as a catalyst for confidence, connection, and personal growth.
Specialising in textiles, Caroline developed her skills within a professional weaving workshop, where she worked for five years. Here, she refined her hand-weaving techniques, gained industry experience as a workshop supervisor, and cultivated a deep respect for local natural materials and traditional processes. This foundation continues to shape her practice, underpinning her commitment to process, skill-sharing, and the tactile, expressive language of cloth.
Her experience working in a nursing home alongside people living with dementia strengthened her patience and deepened her understanding of presence, leading her to create meaningful, responsive art activities rooted in the moment. In a children’s arts centre, she embraced the complexity, curiosity, and imagination of young people, nurturing a strong sense of playfulness that continues to inform her work.
Through her role with Arts Care, she facilitates inclusive, participatory workshops that actively nurture creativity and wellbeing. Her approach invites participants to slow down, engage their senses, and reconnect with the present moment. Through the act of making, individuals often experience a release from anxiety, illness, or isolation, while discovering new skills and a renewed sense of self-belief.
Drawing inspiration from the beauty of the local landscape, her work is guided by the rhythms of nature and its quiet capacity for transformation. At the heart of her practice is a deep and enduring commitment to creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered—reflecting her belief that, like the land itself, we are always in a process of becoming, shaped and renewed through care, creativity, and connection.
