Launch Tome Art Hub

Aim

Help launch an independent and community-focused art hub in Sheffield.

Tome will be an artist-led space for creativity and connection, serving the community of Sheffield and beyond, through art books, supplies, events and workshops.

Growing up in Sheffield, I would dream about someday opening my own art space. I'd imagine selling paintings from one of the shops I'd pass along my walk home from school.

I followed my creative passion, and for the past 7 years I've worked full-time as a Character Artist in the Games Industry, on projects from Horizon Call of the Mountain to Star Wars: Galactic Racer.

While it was exciting, I suffered from burnout, so as a passion project alongside this full-time work, I've spent the last couple of years organising art events to bring people together around a shared love of art.

This year I decided it was finally time to make a change. I’ve now resigned from my full-time job and am opening my own art space - to continue building community and spark more creative ventures.

Tome will serve as an art store and bookshop by day, stocked with inspiration and creative tools, as well as a space for people to sketch, paint and sculpt.

Alongside this will be a busy schedule of workshops and events, ranging from art classes, to Q&As with artists, life drawing, creative gatherings and more!

Tome will be a safe space that features and stocks local artists' work, celebrating individuality and LGBTQIA+ creatives.

Founded and run by myself! Artist and life drawing host, Caleb O'Brien (Figures and Fabric).

Located on the bustling Abbeydale Road, Tome will slot right into the local scene with neighbouring gems such as Puck & Pollen, Ripride and North Town.

At its heart, Tome is a one-of-a-kind art bookshop, filled to the brim with inspiration and storytelling. The weight that physical media carries is more pressing than ever in our increasingly digital world, Tome provides space for in-person discovery.

There's something inspiring about physically picking up a new sketchbook, with all the possibilities that come with those empty pages, or holding a new pencil or paint brush in your hands and sensing the creativity that awaits.

Tome is a place for people to come together, create, learn, share stories and encourage others. A space for everyone no matter your background or stage of creative journey. Whether it's a print-making workshop or a humble sketch club, all are welcome. An art hub is by and for the community.

Your contribution will directly help set up and run the space in it's first year, supporting everything from rent and equipment, to running events and community engagement. 

Every donation counts, and will help turn this idea into a real physical space for human creativity, curiosity and inspiration.

Your support will allow Tome to operate as a sustainable and independent social-enterprise-minded art hub.  

Please take a look at some of the rewards below!

Having worked behind a computer screen for over a decade, I've rediscovered the joy of working traditionally with my hands, especially sculpting with clay, such as this portrait of my 96 year old Grandpa.

Organising drawing events through Figures and Fabric has given me the chance to connect with so many wonderful people and venues all over Sheffield, such as Wes Anderson inspired life drawing at the lovely NO;DC.

In returning to my roots, drawing traditionally, sculpting in clay and connecting with other artists, it's really highlighted to me how important it is to stay in touch with what inspires us and drives us to create.

Tome; A large, heavy book

When feeling overwhelmed by life and at a creative block, I realised the answer was sitting spine to spine stacked on my bookshelf...

Art books, a visual story within reach, inspiration right at my fingertips.

I'm also reminded how crucial it is to give some time to me, to myself.

Tome encapsulates that transition back to our roots, a place that brings all this together, the embrace of physical media, pencil on paper, human experience, a moment to pause and reflect, to imagine.

I want to hear from you!

I've got some exciting ideas in mind, but part of this is co-creation by community, so I'm inviting you to suggest ideas.

• What art supplies would you like to see in stock?
• What kind of workshops or art classes would you be interested in? 
• Are you an artist with a book or artwork to sell?
• Do you have an idea or creative project for a talk or presentation?
• Who are your favourite artists, both local and global?  

Please get in touch at [email protected] and connect on Instagram

Thank you for listening to my story, and for the time and support you've given to me, I can't wait to give back to you through this project.

- Caleb
Artist and (future) Shopkeeper!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st October 2026 at 11:59pm