blended monkey
Blended Monkey was founded by husband and wife team, Simon and Louise Taggart,
whose woodturning and pottery studios are based in a small village on the
Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border, where the surroundings and changing seasons
provide ample inspiration for some of the designs and ideas that can be found in
their pieces.
"Our Blended Monkey gardens provide ample inspiration for our work, and is the
perfect setting for woodturning & pottery courses. Louise (ceramicist) - I
studied at the Falmouth School of Art & Design and I am interested in various
art forms, design and applied arts. Simon (woodturner) - I have been teaching
woodturning for many years and I love working with wood & exploring its
versatility." - Louise & Simon
They offer half- and full-day 1-2-1 or pairs experiences, including their unique
"2 Crafts in 1 Day" workshops where the students gets to explore woodturning in
the morning and then pottery in the afternoon.
All workshops include refreshments; the full-day workshops also provide lunch -
catering to all requirements and allergies.
Simon and Louise are keen supporters of and fundraisers for the Mind charity,
and the past few years have seen Simon and Louise focus their efforts on
offering creative therapy workshops to provide rehabilitation and therapy for
people of all ages who are suffering with brain trauma, strokes, Alzheimer’s
disease and dementia. They are also increasingly seeing students who are coping
with poor mental health (depression, anxiety, PTSD …) often resulting from
stressful jobs which take their toll physically & psychologically.
The regular practice of any art or craft is incredibly beneficial in the
treatment of those with poor mental health or who are rehabilitating after a
brain trauma. Simon and Louise have seen amazing results in some of
their students who come to them regularly to create with wood & clay. They work
together with care associations, council departments & individuals to tailor
their half- or full-day workshops to suit the individual needs of the student.
They really enjoy sharing their woodturning and ceramics expertise and their
lovely environment to contribute towards the rehabilitation and therapies of
people in need.
