Heather’s passion for connecting people through art extends beyond care settings. During the pandemic, she and two friends launched a creative project called #MCRFOUNDIT, hiding small pieces of artwork around Manchester for people to discover. The initiative invited people to share their finds online, spreading joy, fostering connection, and helping to ease feelings of loneliness during lockdown.

Soon, other artists joined in, and the initiative expanded to cities including Birmingham, London, Liverpool, and Nottingham, even appearing at Solfest festival in the Lake District once restrictions lifted.

To celebrate the project’s success and everyone who took part, Heather and her co-founders curated City Found It, an exhibition held in Manchester showcasing the hidden artworks, the stories of those who discovered them, and the contributions of other artists. What began as an online community blossomed into real-life connections, bringing together people from across the country and turning strangers into friends.

These experiences revealed to Heather the incredible power of art to bring people together, spark joy, and build connection. Inspired by this, she dreams of growing The Canvas Community into more community-based projects, showcasing participants’ artwork through exhibitions and online platforms — celebrating their creativity and sharing their stories with the wider world.