Oonagh Nelson Linden

As a Studiomate…

I have been working in the creative field for nearly 30 years. Art has always been an integral part of my life. I originally trained as an illustrator in London but when I returned to Northern Ireland my passion for the healing arts led me on a different path.

I trained to be an Art Psychotherapist in Edinburgh and qualified in 1997.  I have been really fortunate that my career has been diverse and I have worked in a wide variety of settings throughout the province. These contexts have included education, the NHS, prisons and many charities throughout Northern Ireland, mostly focusing in the areas of child and adolescent mental health.

My creative journey brought me to yoga. I eventually took the plunge and became a teacher in 2015 and I now offer Hatha, vinyasa flow and yin yoga practices.  This has united my love for self expression, creativity and movement.

This inspiration has taken me back to my roots as an artist. Since 2018 I have rented studio space at Boom Studios Bangor, where I now explore mixed media, painting and printmaking.  Being a member of Boom has allowed me to expand and develop my creative workshops.

As a Workshop Facilitator:

“It was through my yoga and art classes that my own passion for art journaling was born. I was drawn to its accessibility, the joy of working with recycled materials, and the way the process itself feels so freeing and soulful”

At Boom, Oonagh facilitates the Art for the Heart workshops, which focus on mixed media, creative process, and relaxation, often through creation of art journals. When she’s not leading workshops, she can be found in her studio sewing books, painting, printing, and making collages. Her studio is also home to her art psychotherapy private practice.