In the beginning....

 

Liz Hauck set up Wildwood Artists in 2017 when one of her workshop students asked her if she would teach on a one-to-one basis. She felt strongly that art is better taught within a group of people, allowing cross-fertilization of ideas. The seed was sown and Liz invited a small group of artists from her workshops – at different stages in their art development – to join an informal and flexible programme of art teaching.

 

The core of the teaching programme is expressive art. The emphasis is on painting and drawing freely and from imagination, tapping into memories and feelings. We range across abstraction, semi-abstraction and expressive figurative painting. Although the focus is mainly on painting, we also explore other genres like print, collage and sculpture.

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How it works

 

The group holds two online workshops each month. The ‘Sharing’ sessions give the artists constructive feedback and insight into how others respond to their work.  ‘Learning’ sessions focus on a subject of special interest combining an exploration of art concepts with practical exercises. Exploring new ideas about art whilst making art together encourages play and experimentation.​​.

 

Liz's creative vision

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• Stimulating and practical art learning – exploring art concepts, skills and practices

• Support and encouragement in finding and developing their own way of making art.

• Experimentation with a range of different art mediums and materials

• Learning from other artists, contemporary and historical, famous and not so famous

• The opportunity to exhibit work in group exhibition

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​Our collective values

 

Learning anything new can be frustrating and it is easy to get discouraged. Our values ensure a positive environment within which to learn.

 

• Supportive – working together for the benefit of all of us​​

• Enabling – giving others in the group help and encouragement.​

• Generous – happy to share with each other ideas, discoveries and techniques.​

• Experimental – open to new thinking and different ways of making art.​

• Brave – prepared to be bold and go beyond our comfort zone.

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Exhibitions

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In My Mind’s Eye began in 2019 as the exhibition name for the Wildwood Artists, an Art Group for aspiring artists founded and run by Liz Hauck together with the group. Partnering initially with Adam Aaronson, Liz and the Wildwood Artists were offered the wonderful opportunity to exhibit in the historic Stone Hall at West Horsley Place as part of their first Christmas Fair. Building on the success Liz, Adam, the Wildwood Artists and invited guest artists held their first summer exhibition in the newly renovated barn at West Horsley Place. 

 

In My Mind’s Eye is now an established part of the Surrey art scene. hosting two exhibitions each year at West Horsley Place, one each May in the beautiful Place Farm Barn and one in November as part of the Art and Artisan Fair. Our exhibitions showcase beautiful, high-quality affordable artworks; paintings, drawings, ceramics, glass works and sculptures. 

 

Inspired by her love of art and her belief in the power of art to feed our well-being, Liz wanted to share this passion with others. The In My Mind’s Eye exhibitions now support over thirty local artists, giving them affordable opportunities to exhibit together and creating uplifting and welcoming art exhibitions which bring quality fine art and craft into the community. 

 

 

Giving back

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Liz Hauck donates all proceeds from the Wildwood Art Group, her studio workshops and the sales of her paintings to charity. Charities supported by Liz include;

 

Challengers – Offering inclusive play experiences to disabled children

Cherry Trees – Respite care for parents with disabled children

Home-Start – Supporting struggling parents with children under five

Tujatane - A school for underprivileged children and Twaabane, a Community Creative Centre dedicated to skills enablement, both located near Victoria Falls in Zambia. 

 

In My Mind’s Eye is a not-for-profit venture. In line with our ethos to support and enable artists, we aim to make exhibiting as affordable as possible for the artists whilst at the same time ensuring a top-quality exhibition experience and covering our costs. We donate the profits from our exhibitions to local charities, ideally arts charities.

2025: £4,000 donated to the Lightbox Gallery & Museum in Woking, a leading contemporary gallery, award-winning museum and creative space.

2026: £3,000 donated to historic West Horsley Place a cultural centre where creativity thrives and wellbeing is nurtured.

 

In line with the group ethos to support and enable, several artists in the group donate a proportion of their art sales in group exhibitions to charity. Charities currently supported are the Alzheimer Society, the Stroke Association and the RNIB.