Dean Leivers

I'm really excited to announce I'm working with The National Trust again. I'll be delivering Cyanotype workshops in June and July at the beautiful Calke Abbey inspired by Calke’s historic herbarium collection.

Sessions are free (normal Trust admission costs apply) it'd be great to meet you if you're interested in learning about this historic and creatively inspiring approach to photography.

More info https://tinyurl.com/calke-abbey

#photography #cyanotype #nature #landscape #workshop #nationaltrust

A small selection of images from a recent shoot with Leicester based artist Samantha Peberby. This work is part of her Arts Council funded project all about Leicestershire Folklore Stories. Give her a follow and check out her upcoming workshops and exhibitions.

I love getting to collaborate with friends…they are the best jobs!

#eastmidlands #photography #artist #promotional

Work in Progress.

Two images from an as yet untitled personal project.

#photography #stilllife #nature #landscape #wildflower #ash #workinprogress

I've had a bit of a break from posting on social media of late, it hasn't really been feeling like a joyful place.

One thing bringing me joy though was this piece of work by one of my Y7 mentees! Using some old Affinity tutorial books I had squirrelled away he put his own stamp on a cityscape design and made a short video to show some of the process.

How good is this?!

#eastmidlands #photography #design #creative #mentor #affinity

Here's some images from my last outing with the awesome Spark Arts for Children at the 'DMU Gallery Takeover' event last month in Leicester.

Drop me a line if you have an event or workshop that you need documenting, I love the buzz and unpredictability of capturing the interesting moments of a busy environment!

#photography #eventphotography #eastmidlands #documenting

A wonderful morning of workshops at Thistly Meadow School in Leicestershire last week to help mark the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough. We worked on cyanotype photography and also got to feature on BBC Radio Leicester!

You can hear us at this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002vkg9 (We're on from 21 minutes in)

#workshops #eastmidlands #photography #cyanotype #schools

Another wonderful 'Derbyshire Makes' session at Infinite Wellbeing in Heanor and Ripley, this time with the weekly craft groups. Great weather for it and lots of great images created too!

#derbyshiremakes #heritage #community #derbyshirecountycouncil #creativity #making #derbyshire #art #place

I’ve been back in schools recently sharing the magic of Cyanotype photography and the magic of photography in general. I often use a bit of storytelling in my sessions and this beloved book from my childhood comes with me to every workshop.

Baroness Floella Benjamin still with the power to inspire me and lots of young people!

#creative #freelance #cyanotype #photography #books #storytelling #eastmidlands

We went back to get the finer details of the Home Truths 'Recreate the Streets project. All of the models are amazing and there are so many details to explore.

Big thanks to Platform Thirty1 for the loan of the office/studio space for a morning.

#photography #studiophotography #derbyshire #eastmidlands #freelance

Always great to work and collaborate with Julia at Bobbins and Buttons in Leicester. If you're into dressmaking or would like to learn how to make your own clothes go and check out her work and store!

#photography #eastmidlands #freelance #promotional #promo #fashion #Collaboration

One of my Mighty Creatives mentees has entered his experimental photography phase. This week some light painting! We made a little video clip using his stills too.

#mentoring #photography #lightpainting #derbyshire

🎶 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…In Blackwell Parish at least.

📷 Some recent photographs for Greater Creative as they unveiled the festive trees created during the 'Squares' project. Over 5000 crocheted squares were made by local residents which were stitched together to create the trees that will be displayed in five parish locations.

I can't wait to see them in place!

#photography #eventphotography #derbyshire #eastmidlands #freelance

I took 'The Bongazingajangle' out into the wild recently, reading it to classes at Priestsic Primary School in my home town of Sutton-in-Ashfield. Some fabulous front cover designs were made in the workshop and a copy of the book even got pride of place in the reading corner!

#childrensbook #author #illustration #eastmidlands #freelance #Collaboration

A little look at the cover design work in progress for 'The Bongazingajangle' a children's story by Dean Leivers and Samantha Jayne Peberdy.

We are so excited to be putting this collaboration out into the world in 2026!

#book #creativewriting #illustration #story #childrensbook #eastmidlands #freelance

In March I'm taking part in the YMCA Sleep Easy event, raising vital funds for YMCA Derbyshire. I'd be really grateful for your financial support for a charity carrying out vital work for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

I'm hoping for much better weather than we've had this week, although there are a lot of people that won't be in a warm house the day after sleeping rough!

Here's the link for more info and how to donate https://www.justgiving.com/page/dean-leivers?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

#charity #fundraising #ymca

This month I decided to run down, in no particular order, my favourite books, movies/TV and albums from the last 12 months.

Check out the blog post over on my Substack https://open.substack.com/pub/deanleivers/p/this-year-ive-mostly-been?r=42mxwc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

#bookrecommendations #filmrecommendations #tvrecommendations #musicrecommendations

This Month I've Mostly Been…November 2025

Another run down of the books, films and music that entertained me over the last month. https://open.substack.com/pub/deanleivers/p/this-month-ive-mostly-been-4fc?r=42mxwc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

#bookrecommendations #movierecommendations #musicrecommendations

Steadily getting back into the swing of things. This week I started work on a new animation with a mentee for the Mighty Creatives, which we hope will incorporate light boxes and stop motion.

Lots of experimenting and interesting ideas!

#freelance #mentoring #eastmidlands #creative

A great morning with Samantha Jayne Peberdy working on the layout and text placing for our children's book 'The Bongazingajangle' which we'll be sharing in early 2026!

#childrensbook #autor #illustration #eastmidlands #freelance #Collaboration

Recently a mentee and I have been working on projects that "Create Something from Nothing". We've been working on collage using old magazine scraps which has been a fun but quite relaxing activity. Here are our combined efforts!

#eastmidlands #collage #design #creative #mentor

Proudly presenting…'Crow Man' an animation project made alongside one of my fabulous Mighty Creatives Creative Mentees.

Looking forward to seeing what we get up to next!

#creative #freelance #mentoring #workshops #eastmidlands

A wonderful festival day yesterday at 'Derbyshire Makes' Heanor.

I owe a huge thank you to everyone who participated in my workshops on the day and in the lead up to the festival, I'm so grateful for the enthusiasm that you brought to the sessions. Also to the Makeshift team for the support and for linking me up with the team at Shipley who were also very supportive…a perfect location for my practice.

And finally to Derbyshire Makes and Derbyshire County Council for the opportunity and funding

At the weekend I visited the Derby Computer Museum with a mentee, and wow! What a hidden gem! I will certainly be back as I definitely didn't spend enough time reliving my childhood!

#creative #freelance #mentoring #eastmidlands

Some lovely feedback to start the week from recent 'Derbyshire Makes' sessions in partnership with Infinite Wellbeing in Heanor. Can't wait for the festival day on May 2nd!

#derbyshiremakes #heritage #community #derbyshirecountycouncil #creativity #making #derbyshire #art #place

@derbyshiremakes @artsderbyshire @derbyshirecountycouncil @derbyshirecc @wearelocal

For this years charity fundraising activity I've decided to once again opt for a YMCA Sleep Easy event, this time raising vital funds for YMCA Derbyshire. I'd be really grateful for your financial support for a charity carrying out vital work for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Here's the link for more info and how to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/page/dean-leivers?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

A fun bit of animation to finish the year with one of my 'Mighty Creatives' creative mentees. Genuinely have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure my job isn't a dream!

#freelance #mentoring #creative #animation #education

For anyone else who isn't anywhere near 100% this week. Thank you Creative Boom 🙏

https://www.creativeboom.com/tips/how-to-ease-back-into-creative-work-after-christmas-without-burning-out-by-week-2/

#CreativeRecovery #WorkSmartNotHard #PostHolidayRoutine #BeatBurnout #JanuaryMindset #GentleProductivity

A bit of excitement in the house this weekend as the proofs of my children's book 'The Bongazingajangle' arrived! I’ve absolutely loved working with Samantha Jayne Peberdy on this and we can’t wait to share it very soon!

Lots of test runs at bedtime with the kids first though!

#childrensbook #author #illustration #eastmidlands #freelance #Collaboration

Great first Derbyshire Makes session at Infinite Wellbeing in Heanor with the teens group. We looked at the Cyanotype process, the science behind the art and of course made our own designs…whilst dodging the rain!

#derbyshiremakes #heritage #community #derbyshirecountycouncil #creativity #making #derbyshire #art #place

@derbyshiremakes @artsderbyshire @derbyshirecountycouncil @derbyshirecc @wearelocal

Over £25,000 raised at YMCA Derbyshire Sleep Easy 2026!!!

Thank you to everyone who donated to my contribution to this amazing total.

Here's the link for reflections on the evening https://ymcaderbyshire.org.uk/over-25000-raised-ymca-derbyshire-sleep-easy-2026/

There's also still time to donate before the fundraiser closes https://www.justgiving.com/page/dean-leivers?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

#charity #fundraising #ymca #endhomelessness

Very excited to once again be part of 'Concept' at Pedestrian. Next week I'll be helping young folk through their Arts Award journey while they devise and record a concept album together…I might even get in on the music making myself at some point during the week 😉

#creative #freelance #music #artsaward #eastmidlands