On Display: What Peace Looks Like 🕊️
Updated: Oct 2
Peace can feel like an enormous idea. We hear about it in a wider world context, through the media, world leaders and the continuing conflicts and inequalities affecting people's lives. Peace on that scale matters enormously - but peace also belongs to every one of us.
This year's United Nations International Day of Peace theme, “Invest in Peace — For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day”, reminds us that peace isn't something we should only hope for; it is something we can value, protect and help to create within our own lives, relationships and communities.
Everyday peace can be quieter - feeling safe and accepted, showing kindness, listening and understanding, supporting a friend, including someone who might otherwise feel left out, spending time in nature, or creating a space where people can simply be themselves. These things may feel small beside the scale of world events, but they matter.
So, rather than asking our artists to solve the enormous question of world peace, we simply asked: What does peace look like to you?
Sarah – Inspired by Pablo Picasso’s simple line drawings of doves, I wanted to see how much detail I could leave out while still creating a recognisable image. I chose a single white dove in flight carrying an olive branch, bringing together two traditional symbols of peace.
With continuing unrest around the world, this is my own simple message of hope for peace.
Pencil and paint markers on paper.
Andy – Chose the familiar symbol of a white dove, creating his own simple interpretation, with an olive branch adding a little touch of colour.
I really like the shapes of Andy’s wings — they almost look like open hands reaching out, which feels so fitting for our peace theme.
Pencil and soft pastel.
Barbara – A perfect subject for Barbara and her fabulous talent for drawing hands! Her V-sign sits alongside the traditional peace symbols, with that gorgeous red really popping against the softer watercolours.
Amazing too that Barbara managed to create this when she wasn't feeling her best.
Watercolour and fine-liner.
Matthew – Gave our peace theme a lot of thought and decided to draw his ‘Circle of Friends’. ❤️ For Matthew, his close circle of friends brings him peace through friendship, security and connection.
Such a simple line drawing, but with so much meaning behind it. I love how thoughtfully Matthew interpreted the theme and made it completely personal to him.
He also proudly used the Cornish pen Myra gave him when she and Scott visited Llandudno at the weekend and met up with a few of our members. 🖊️✨
A really meaningful piece from Matthew.
Black biro.
Noor – Made the big green circle our world, with a little bird and birdhouse at the top, a tree and a flower growing below. 🐦🌼
She's brought together the world, nature and a safe little home — such a lovely way of showing what peace means to her. I love those beautiful bright colours too, especially that fabulous shade of green! 💚🌍
Watercolours.
Phil – Took a very personal approach, showing some of the different people who bring peace into his life through friendship, support and helping him feel safe.
His colourful collage combines photographs of shared moments with AI-created interpretations of his photographs inspired by Pablo Picasso. I still absolutely love the picture of Phil and Myra!
Photographs and Google Gemini.
Christine – Chose this detailed image of Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theatre from the peace section of her colouring app.
With so many intricate architectural details to work through, this one took Christine quite some time to complete! The finished theatre looks striking against its starry night sky, and it's a very different addition to our gallery this week.
Digital colouring | Color Aura app.
Alison – A familiar artwork returned this week! Alison has been adding to this colourful piece during previous sessions, and this week we got to see it finished.
Packed with flowers, colour and lots of little details to discover, Alison has really brought this lovely little fantasy world to life. It feels especially fitting for someone who loves flowers and enjoys helping in the garden too! 🌸
Felt-tip pen markers.
Donna – Caught up with our peace theme after being away and created a very personal interpretation. Surrounded by a large red heart with the words Love and Hope, Donna holds a smaller heart carrying the message “I can choose peace.” A lovely, positive addition to our gallery. ❤️🕊️
Felt-tip pens and pencil.
Our gallery reminds us that peace can be both enormous and incredibly personal. We found it in doves and familiar symbols, but also in friendship, safety, connection, nature, creativity and the people who help us feel that we belong.
We may not individually have the answers to the world's conflicts, but we all have opportunities to value and protect peace in our own lives - through kindness rather than hostility, inclusion rather than exclusion, by listening, supporting and making space for one another.
Peace can help make our lives and communities gentler, safer and more connected. Perhaps peace isn't only something we wish for; it is something we can all help to create, protect and carry forward, every day.
Fancy getting creative with us? 🎨
Join us online every Wednesday evening from 7:30–9 pm for our art sessions. Everyone is welcome, whatever your experience or ability - come along, get creative, enjoy some friendly company and explore a different topic every week.
We'd love to see you there! ✨ The link is below - select All4Art.
Lovely work everyone - interesting to see the number of people inspired by the Dove of Peace. - was this the bird that brought the part of a growing plant to the people on the ark in the biblical story? Or am I getting confused?