Studio Background

The Lantern Studio is a home art studio of Sam and Bob Heath. They met at the Cyprus College of Art in 1998, under Stas Paraskos. Here, they felt an authenticity to the spirit of art that continues to ground their practice.

In 2003, the arrival of their children, prompted Sam to join Bob in the UK and became involved in the community arts sector and teaching along with Bob who has been involved in Carnival Arts, Community Projects and music since the late 80's.

During this time, Sam became interested in art therapy and undertook formal training. "I was interested in finding out how art played a role in helping people. In particular with unhelpful thoughts, loss and childhood trauma. 

 Finally, 2019 when their garage roof gave way they decided to convert it into a studio and the Little Lantern studio came into being to offer personal art tuition and therapy.  From our experiences we believe that anyone can benefit from and discover their art abilities.

 Art can be a source of self exploration, understanding, healing and pleasure. Whether you would like to nurture your talents, discover your creativity or gain personal insight or undergo therapy, Little Lantern studio has something for you. We offer online, 1:1, and group sessions. Our group sessions are small (Max8) so booking is essential. Please see our classes and sessions to learn more about our offerings.

About Art, Self Expression and therapy:

Self expression does not have to mean painting like a great master. I believe we are all creative, symbolic and meaning making beings.  As such we all have the propensity to express our inner being. Some call it soul or authentic self.  Some people may need support to access or develop that creative self, and there is much we can do to enable ourselves to become sensitive to the tools and materials we use in being creative that may lead us to become highly articulate in this area, as artist are (if that is the journey we wish to take). For others self expression is about having access to and having the soul's journey heard,  being able to find a way to say the things that cannot be vocalised for whatever reason, or to say them differently or to bring something into being on a metaphorical level can do a great deal to shift and change the problems and scripts and suffering in people's lives.

The simple act of drawing the world around us, being attentive to the here and now, the practise of observation that artists have used to develop their skills can also give great insight into the nature of the minds conversation and utilise it to become aware of it while providing the distance to empathise and attend to it, like mindfulness practise. 

You may be thinking, well I'll just go off and do loads of art then! And yes, to a point, this may be the right path for you. However, therapy is also about relationship for many reasons. Partly because we are often blind to ourselves, and therapists are trained to listen and reflect in an empathic way that enables you, and provide specific support.

When I was at school I had this game a friend and I would play sending doodle pictures to each other. It became a very beautiful and open way to share and form relationship, and it was so safe because the pictures allowed us to be as open or general as we felt comfortable.  Through these squiggles and colours we were able to transcend the limitations of our verbal world and see each other.  In South Africa, the Zulu greeting Sawubona means "I see you, you are important to me and I value you”. It’s a way to make the other person visible and to accept them as they are with their virtues, nuances, and flaws." Although I am not Zulu, making pictures with another this way is on the same level, and the basis for my work with others.

Furthermore, it is through neuroscience, that in the recent past science has provided the facts to support the knowledge that positive relational experiences have, and also the value of art in connecting and opening neural pathways to facilitate wellbeing, support attachment and mitigate effects of trauma.