A Season of Shared Creativity: Our Partnership with ArtVenture

When we first discovered ArtVenture, we knew we’d found something truly special. Based just a stone’s throw from our studio, the charity provides a creative haven for adults with learning disabilities, physical impairments and autism — a place where art brings freedom, purpose and joy.

Founded in 1984, The ArtVenture Trust gives vulnerable adults the opportunity to explore the visual arts in a safe, supportive environment. With the help of a dedicated team of art workers and volunteers, many practising artists themselves, participants are encouraged to paint, sculpt, weave and experiment freely. It’s a space that nurtures confidence and independence; one where every person has full agency over what they create and how they express themselves.

It was this gentle, creative spirit,  and a shared belief in the beauty of craft, that drew us to ArtVenture and sparked a partnership we’re deeply proud of.

For many of ArtVenture’s artists, opportunities to take part in meaningful, creative activity can be limited once they leave education. The studio offers that essential continuation — a space to belong, to make, and to grow. As ArtVenture shared with us, “While they are at ArtVenture, they have full agency of their lives - something that is often missing in other areas. This independence and self-expression not only build confidence but nurture their sense of identity and belonging.”

Since forming our partnership earlier this year, our relationship has been filled with moments of connection; from volunteering days spent alongside the artists to the many inspiring conversations that happen around a shared table.

A Christmas Collaboration

One of the first initiatives to grow from our partnership has been this season’s postcard collaboration, a much-loved Rowen & Wren tradition. Each season, we commission a British artist to design a postcard inspired by our latest collection. This Christmas, we invited the ArtVenture artists to take part.

Christmas proved a favourite theme, and the studio was soon alive with festive colour and imagination. While one final design would ultimately be chosen, the process was kept light-hearted and inclusive. As ArtVenture put it, “We were happy to see that they all enjoyed the process and had a lot of fun creating the designs.”

The chosen piece was created by Annie Brennand-Roper, whose watercolour captures the spirit of Rowen & Wren with charm and detail. Inspired by our imagery and seasonal palette, Annie imagined a traditional Christmas living room: armchairs draped in fabric, a chandelier glowing above, candles flickering softly - and her playful touch, a bird perched at the centre and a cat curled up contentedly in one of the armchairs.

Alongside creative collaborations like this, our partnership with ArtVenture continues throughout the year. Members of our team volunteer at their workshops, spending time with the artists and lending a hand where needed - though more often than not, we’re the ones who leave feeling enriched.

This winter, we’ll also be donating a portion of our Black Friday sales to help fund materials, studio resources and special experiences for ArtVenture’s artists - opportunities to bring the world to them through creative exploration.

As ArtVenture beautifully put it: “Our participants cannot always access the world around them. It is too strange, too unfamiliar, too loud. So we have to bring the world to them. The partnership with Rowen & Wren makes this possible for us.”

A Celebration of Creativity

To close the year, we’ll co-host a joint Christmas exhibition and party, celebrating the artists’ incredible work. Every design, including those created for our postcard, will be displayed and credited. It will be a joyful moment to come together, to connect, and to celebrate the beauty of creativity shared.

As you unwrap your parcel this Christmas, you’ll find Annie’s postcard tucked inside, a small token of that shared spirit. We hope it brings a moment of quiet delight and shines a light on the wonderful work of ArtVenture and their artists.