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BUY: Stuart Semple’s My Happy Colouring Flip Book, in aid of the mental health charity Mind.

Stuart Semple today launches My Happy Colouring Flip Book through Amazon.co.uk. The series of over 250 drawings from one of the UKs most prominent post-YBA artists, blend in a fun, pocket-sized flip book that encourages adults and kids to experience the proven therapeutic benefits of creativity. Sales of the book in aid of the mental health charity Mind, will go to the organisation’s Creative Therapies Fund, providing grants for therapeutic arts projects across the country.

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Stuart found catharsis through art as a young adult, which catalysed his own recovery from severe anxiety. At the time this led him to create, and sell through e-bay, 3,000 works of art within a three year period, gaining him the offer for his first solo exhibition in 2001 at London’s A&D gallery. A decade and several international exhibitions later, recognising the role art had played in his own recovery, Stuart established the Creative Therapies Fund with Mind to enable other people to access art as therapy.

Watch a Video of the book being flicked: FLICK

One in four people experience a mental health problem every year, many feel unable to engage with traditional counselling or talking therapies, as the process of verbally expressing experiences or emotions can feel overwhelming. The Creative Therapies Fund has made £80,000 available in the last two years to provide grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to a broad range of projects, from choral groups to creative writing or fine art mentoring programmes. They enable service users to express themselves without having to use words, in a therapeutic environment, with a trained therapist.

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£1 from every copy of the Happy Colouring Flip Book, will go to the fund, to help support the future of the projects. In turn, the book itself is intended to provide people with an excuse to take a break from daily pressures and explore their own creative side.

Stuart Semple said: “I really hope people enjoy the book, I’ve been colouring a page a day myself and it really is relaxing!  From my own personal experience and what we’ve seen through the funded arts projects, creativity is a really powerful and positive part of the treatment puzzle for so many people.

“I’d like my book to be a direct way of demonstrating that, and raise much needed funds at the same time to support Mind. It’s my hope the proceeds will enable the Creative Therapies Fund to continue the incredible work it has been doing. I think at this time, more than ever, access to creative outlets for those that need it is vitally important.”

Paul Farmer, CEO OF Mind said: “The Happy Colouring Flip Book is a wonderfully engaging distraction from daily stresses. It provides moments of relaxation through colour and fantastically fun designs, which come to life when flipped through.

“The process of talking about painful experiences can be incredibly daunting and, for some, feel utterly impossible. Yet we know that working through feelings and emotions with a trained therapist, can be the key to recovery from a mental health problem. Through the Creative Therapies Fund, we’ve ensured many more people have access to these life-changing services. Stuart’s ongoing support through this book will enable us to continue this work and for that we’re eternally grateful.”

My Happy Flip Colouring Book is available at www.mind.org.uk/happybook priced £9.99
£1 from every sale of the book will be donated to Mind.
Follow the conversation on Twitter using #HappyBook

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