Meet the Member: Graham Cullis, Lonely H’Arts & a Whole Lot of Paint
Some people discover C-Space through Google.
Some come along to an event.
Some are recommended by a friend.
And then there’s Graham Cullis, who pretty much wandered into the building covered in paint, with no shoes on, looking for somewhere inspirational to paint.
Naturally, he fitted right in.
Since then, Graham has become one of those people who seems to bring a little extra colour with him every time he walks through the door — sometimes quite literally — and he’s been brightening up our days at C-Space ever since.
Meet Graham
Graham Cullis is an artist and mental-health activist with a brilliantly simple belief at the heart of much of what he does: creativity can connect people.
Graham discovered painting later in life, during a difficult period with his own mental health. Art became an important part of finding his way through that experience and, over time, painting grew into something much bigger than a personal creative outlet.
It became a way to reach people.
A way to start conversations.
And, perhaps most importantly, a way to make people feel a little less alone.
Which brings us to Lonely H’Arts.
Standing Against Loneliness
Loneliness is something Graham speaks openly about having experienced himself, and his work increasingly explores what happens when we use creativity as an excuse to get people together.
Because sometimes connection doesn't need to be complicated.
It can start with a paintbrush. A conversation. A shared experience. A swim in the sea. Or simply turning up somewhere and finding people who are happy you came.
That thinking sits behind Graham's current project, which has seen him travel around coastal communities across the UK, bringing people together through art, meditation, mindfulness, movement and sea swimming.
Along the way, he has been creating community-collaborated artworks inspired by the places and people he meets — including, naturally, a Newquay Nautilus.
His mission is about more than creating paintings. It's about using art to create little ripples of connection between people.
And that's something we can get behind.
Art With a Bigger Purpose
Graham's work also has a strong connection to Your Art Connect CIC, the community interest company that grew from an idea between Graham and Kate Evans here in Cornwall.
The original concept was to create art sessions where young people could make friends, talk about what was going on in their lives and discover new creative skills in a welcoming, non-judgemental environment.
The first session took place in Newquay in 2021 and the project has since developed into Your Art Connect CIC, continuing to use art as a way to support wellbeing, build confidence and create connection.
It's an ethos that runs throughout Graham's work: art doesn't have to live quietly on a wall. It can
actually do something.
In fact, Graham is donating the proceeds from the original artworks created through his Lonely H'arts collection to Your Art Connect CIC, helping the organisation continue introducing people to the therapeutic benefits of creativity.
From Bare Feet to an Exhibition at C-Space
So when a paint-covered, barefoot artist arrived at C-Space looking for somewhere with a bit of inspiration, it probably shouldn't have surprised us that things escalated.
Our sea views became a backdrop for painting.
The building gained considerably more paint.
Graham gained somewhere to create.
And we gained another wonderfully colourful member of the C-Space community.
Then, on Sunday 30th August, we got to take things one step further and host Graham's exhibition right here at C-Space.
And what a day it was.
The space filled with Graham's work, people came together to see the art and hear the stories behind it, and we had the brilliant Daisy Mae and DJ Skydancer adding the soundtrack to the day.
It was creative, colourful, slightly chaotic in all the best ways and absolutely full of people connecting with one another.
Basically, very C-Space.
More Than Somewhere to Work
Graham's story sums up something we love about this building.
Yes, C-Space is somewhere to open the laptop, have meetings, build businesses and actually get some work done.
But sometimes someone walks through the door with an idea.
Sometimes they're carrying a surfboard.
Sometimes they're carrying a canvas.
And occasionally, apparently, they're wearing no shoes and are completely covered in paint.
That's the good stuff.
Because the people who find their way here are what make C-Space what it is — creatives, founders, freelancers, dreamers, doers and people simply looking for somewhere they can feel part of something.
Graham came looking for somewhere inspirational to paint.
We're very glad he wandered in.
And we are proud to have been part of his journey.
If you missed Graham’s exhibition at C-Space — or just fancy another dose of colour, creativity and connection — you can catch him again in Shoreditch this October, where he’ll be bringing the Lonely H’Arts spirit to London. Keep an eye on Graham’s channels for all the details, and if you’re nearby, go along and say hello from us!
