ARTventurers: Hartlepool business celebrates second birthday

ARTventurers Tees Valley runs sensory, art and craft classes for children aged from 6 months upwards.

The project was started in January 2014 by Shirley Anne Wood. Shirley and her team runs weekly art classes for babies, toddlers and pre-school age children as well as family classes for babies to 11-year-olds on a weekend.

It also runs holiday art and craft classes, and creative birthday parties.

The second birthday was celebrated with a Minion-themed birthday party for families and Shirley said: “I’m delighted that the ARTventurers Tees Valley classes have reached our second year milestone.

“I’ve spent a lot of time developing a colourful, fun programme of sessions to encourage children of all ages to get creative and use their imaginations. It means a lot to inspire parents and children who come along to and enjoy the ARTventurers Tees Valley sessions.”

Shirley has a background as a freelance digital media artist and, after maternity leave in 2013, was looking for a new challenge. That’s when she decided she wanted to make a difference for children in the area.

Her classes have impressed parents in the region and one said: “ARTventurers Tees Valley is such a lovely place to be able to go to, there’s so many good and creative things to do. The children can get messy, play with other children, be creative, and try different things that you might not do at home. There’s also lots of interacting and coming together with singing and dancing.”

For more information on ARTventurers Tees Valley classes and workshops, visit www.artventurers.co.uk/tees, contact Shirley on 07956 641161 or email [email protected]