Thinkarts was formed in 2004 under the auspices of North East London NHS Foundation Trust, to provide arts-related events, projects and vocational opportunities for people who have experienced mental ill health. Between 2004 and 2011, it developed many projects including an exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, other exhibitions in Ilford, Walthamstow and Barking, and a creative writing anthology.

In November 2011, responsibility for thinkarts was transferred to CREST, a grassroots community organisation with forty years’ experience of developing local services such as a mental health befriending service, Evolve — a primary care mental health social inclusion project, and the Foyer Gallery – a small art gallery located in Walthamstow town centre