Ali Penn
I have worked for many years in art and design in London and around the world. My passion has always been with food. I love to create a complete experience for people. Making delicious dishes, to be enjoyed with friends and family. My work includes catering for large summer weddings to small intimate supper clubs
Angelique Samadi
I’ve always loved looking at pictures of dot mandalas and find them so colourful and beautiful, so I decided to teach myself, which took some time. I could not believe how absorbing and mindful dot painting was and how much time I lost, I also realised how relaxed and de-stressed I felt afterwards and how my energy had increased. I sat there thinking how much this would help other people and how much we all need this in our lives now, with society and our lives being so busy and stressful, and voila my business was born.
My workshops teaches you to create your own Mandala masterpiece. These classes can encourage stress reduction, allowing you to take a break from your hectic routine and to clear your mind. It is a form of exercise for your brain which stimulates your creativity, whilst working in a relaxed environment. You get to create something aesthetically pleasing while you immerse yourself in the therapeutic effects of dot painting.
Mandala, which stands for circle, is an abstract design that is often circular in frame. Mandalas can contain both geometric and organic forms. They go back to the first century BC and are found in all parts of the world in many cultures and religions.
Barry Dring
My interest in crochet started with the sole purpose of making a wooly hat for my new born girl. This quickly progressed into making booties, blankets, clothing and soft toys. 6 years on and many bespoke crochet soft toy commissions later I want to pass this versatile and creative tool onto more people.
Bronwyn Oldham
I have a BA (Hons) Degree in Media & Photography, I am a Licentiate (LRPS) of Royal Photographic Society and I completed a course in Children’s Counselling & Art Therapy.
I achieved my degree at a time when the medium of photography had yet to undergo the complete digital revolution of recent years. Whilst my clear aesthetic and artistic rationale remained, I realised I needed to re-train, discovering the new techniques and endless possibilities of digital photography, to further liberate my practice. Now, my influences are mainly female photographers, from the beautiful cyanotypes of 19th Century nature photographer Anna Atkins, through to the abstract black and white flowers of Tina Modotti and Imogen Cunningham. In addition to this, I am a qualified Discover & Explore Arts Award Assessor and was the Chairman for Leigh Art Trail from 2012-2017.
Caroline Burkett
I am a fully qualified art psychotherapist and I have 15years experience in providing a wide range of art workshops.
I specialise in working with clients who are not happy with their lives right now. My aim is to work with you to revitalise you and help you to find new ways of being. I do this by using my specialist art therapy skills and techniques to help you rediscover that loving relationship with yourself, and to help you move away from the past that is controlling you now in the present.
Charlotte Hamilton
I am a cross-disciplinary artist and founder of creative
empowerment brand Sugar Storm Studio. Since graduating with a
BA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins my work has been
centred around communication, relationships and skill sharing.
Sugar Storm Studio champions DIY, self-expression and owning
your individuality, with alternative fashion, workshops and online
content. I develop workshops that allow participants to embrace
their creativity and give them the tools to infuse creativity into
their daily life, or turn that creativity into a creative career.
Sustainability and reuse is a driving force within my workshops
and my business, as I share my practices of making the most of
what you have, and making it yourself.
Christine Absalom and Jules Easlea
Christine was classically trained at LAMDA, way back in the dark ages of the late 1960s. But her career began before that, playing a Chorus Girl in the musical ‘Funny Girl’,at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff.
Christine’s first love is live theatre, and she has been lucky enough to enjoy a long career in Regional Theatre, including seasons at The National Theatre, and Chichester Festival Theatre.
She had a long association with The Mercury Theatre, in Colchester where she played a variety of leading ladies from Winnie in Becket’s HAPPY DAYS, to Lady Bracknell in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, from Madame Arcarti in BLITHE SPIRIT to The Mother in BLOOD WEDDING
( for which she received a Barclays/TMA Award nomination) she also played Brutus in an all female production of JULIUS CAESAR.
Christine appeared in a number of now legendary Sunday Afternoon Classic Serials on BBC television, including GREAT EXPECTATIONS, and JANE EYRE. She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Drama, having been a member of the Radio Drama Company, and played Miss Phyllis Marshall in the Radio 4 series HOMEFRONT.
Most recently she has been working with local writer Nicola Werenowska, on her new play MASKED.
Along with her sister Jules Easlea, Christine is a co founder of JUBILANT PRODUCTIONS, whose inaugural show, MERRY IT WAS TO LAUGH THERE - a reflection on the poetry and words from soldiers of WW1, toured Essex in 2014, and supported the Poppy installation at Shoebury Garrison.
Christine Wyatt
My professional background is in Management Consulting, working mainly at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and IBM. Throughout my career I have travelled extensively across Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America which has given me a unique global perspective on different cultures and how people live and work. From the very beginning of my career I sought to find balance between work and life by spending time outside walking and running and by learning the art of floristry. For some years I had a part time job at a Top London Florist where we did amazing work across London’s luxury hotels. Now, I bring that experience to my own practice, creating stunning arrangements for weddings and events, tailored to the client's theme, venue and time of year. I am inspired by nature and all the flowers and plants around us and love each season as it arrives and gives me new inspiration!
Clarissa Debenham
Clarissa Debenham is a professional photographer based in Westcliff. She studied photography at college and has been teaching digital photography and photo editing to adults for over 15 years. Her teaching experience has given her a broad knowledge of all types of digital cameras and photographic techniques. In her own work Clarissa specialises in photographing people and says “Being able to keep peoples memories alive by capturing unrepeatable snippets in time is a privilege I am thankful for every day.”
Daryl Easlea
When I worked full-time at Record Collector magazine, my broad tastes and knowledge led to me being deemed a ‘generalist.’ DJ, compere, and consultant to record companies, my books explore my great loves; great pop eccentrics, populist African-American music and prog rock. My published work includes “Everybody Dance: Chic & The Politics Of Disco” was (2004), an extended essay to accompany the Supremes exhibition at the V&A, “Talent Is an Asset: the Story of Sparks” and “Without Frontiers: The Life And Music Of Peter Gabriel”. My work can be found in Record Collector, Prog, Mojo, and in other places, too. I currently broadcast on Ship Full of Bombs and I’m part of Middle Age Spread, the DJ collective who play 'Grown Up Disco For Those Unafraid To Dance'.
David Lintine
The printmaking medium etching has been my principle means for expressing ideas and imagery for the past 20 years; alongside drawings in charcoal and pencil.
In these works I aim to create harmonious compositions from the uncluttered spaces of public buildings, attempting to capture the effects of light and atmosphere.
Although I always represent specific interior spaces (Tate Modern, Kettles Yard Museum, the National Gallery), formal considerations are paramount to me.
Amongst many, I particularly admire the work of the 17th Century Dutch painter Pieter de Hooch.
I exhibit my work in national and regional art centres, museums and competitions; and through the artist cooperative 'Bankside' gallery in London as an associate member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.
Deb Hart
For the last twenty years I have been running willow and basket weaving workshops all over the UK, and in Canada, for the National Trust, English Heritage, the Royal Horticultural Society, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Burghley Horse Trials, the Scout Jamboree, plus many charities and schools. I have constructed willow structures in private gardens as well as building fences and gardens at the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows.
I have worked in horticulture for 26 years and am a keen wildlife gardener, which leads me to believe that we should try to keep as many things around us as natural as possible, without creating an unnecessary impact on our environment. Willow is perfect for this as it brings a natural biological cycle into your garden. Willow is a naturally grown, biodegradable material. As well as being beautiful to look at, it creates an essential over-wintering habitat for beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and beetles, as well as many other creatures.
Debbie Hadley
My background is as a freelance artist and educator, over the years I have taught in many different settings . Working with diverse groups and organisations from Southend Council, Schools, Pinpoint Create and Community Mosaic East. I was a founding member of Studio 11 Gallery in Westcliff and have regularly exhibited in the area.
I currently teach Art and Design at Basildon Pupil Referral Unit, working with students that are not accessing mainstream education.
I have always loved ceramics and through this have found my way to mosaic. I use a variety of techniques and media. I often find one media will inform another.
I am a professional member of the British Association of Modern Mosaics. Arts Award Bronze, Silver and Gold Assessor. B. A. Hons Creative Arts, Brighton. PGCE. Art and Design , Middlesex
Dee Curtis
Dee Curtis comes from a creative background, trained in Design and Pattern Cutting at the London College of Fashion where she went on to work as a Designer and Pattern Cutter for over 15 years for renowned brands such as Oasis and Coast. In 2012 Dee turned her creative focus in gaining qualifications in Traditional Upholstery and restoring vintage furniture.
An Arts Award Advisor and qualified Lecturer with experienced of teaching accredited, non-accredited courses, Dee has been inspiring learners for over 10 years and now lecturing at Essex Adult Community Learning in Traditional Upholstery as well as delivering classes in the local community of Southend.
Dee says, “I have been working in the creative industry most of my life and now love passing on my skills whilst encouraging learners to develop and find their own creative style”.
Farida Kamruddin and Natasha Manley
Farida Kamruddin - Sketchy Sisters.
I have always loved art and being creative, with a fashion degree from London College of Fashion and a huge passion for sketching I made the leap from working in the City in Project Management to follow my passion and become an Artist. Daily sketching and learning new skills in many art and design workshops through a period of illness ignited this passion as i felt the health benefits immediately and i felt inspired and energised. The things that are most important to my work are community, sisterhood, equality, feminine power and wellness. I believe art can be accessible to all and that it should be social, fun and a form of self expression, and it can be hugely healing. I love working with different mediums and use marker pens, acrylic paint, ink and gauche as well as print making,clay and needle felting. Showing my art for the first time in public this year at the Rochford Art Festival, I also earlier this year founded Sketchy Sister Southend which is a drawing group for women focusing on drawing exercises and projects based around wellness and sisterhood. I hope to see you soon at a Sketchy Sister Meet up or one of the wellbeing art workshops which I co-host with Tash Manley.
Natasha Manley - Calligraphy by Tash.
I’ve always been artistic, studying art at school and later at the London College of Fashion. I have always loved pencil and line drawing as well as photography. After having my daughter I started getting back in touch with my artistic side, which is when I attended a calligraphy course, which I absolutely loved! It was both beautiful to look at but I also found it very relaxing, feeling much calmer after practising it. I later set up my calligraphy business, Calligraphy by Tash, and haven’t looked back! I hope to see you at mine and Farida’s drawing and lettering workshops soon, which we hope will leave you feeling happy that you have made something, learned something new and had a moment to relax!
Gaynor Edwards
After completing a degree in Textiles and Fashion, I found myself in the textile industry, designing and printing textiles using various methods from screen printed to digital dye sublimation. In my spare time I began to study City and Guilds Stained Glass, which allowed my 2D creativity to be explored in a very different medium.
I love the fact that I have learnt an old craft, and one that can potentially be appreciated for a few hundred years! I continue to work with textiles, and enjoy designing, making and restoring stained glass commissions in my spare time.
Gina Griffin
Growing up in Ireland cooking has always been an inherit feature in my family. My mother came from a farming background and really instilled in me the importance of home baking and cooking by passing down traditions and recipes her mother gave to her, for which I am very grateful.
After many years and taking a different career path, I decided to attend the 12 Week Certificate Course at Ballymaloe Cookery School in July 2015, which is one of the world’s most respected organic cookery schools. While at Ballymaloe, I was fully immersed into every process of preparing food from planting the seeds to picking the veg, milking the cows to making cheese…every single dish was thoughtfully prepared using local seasonal ingredients at every stage. It gave me a completely new perspective and respect for food, an experience I will treasure forever.
Through my time at Ballymaloe and experience gained over the years, I have developed a very mindful simplistic approach to cooking. I focus very much on creating simple healthy wholesome meals using good quality and local ingredients, letting the ingredients speak for themselves….an ingredient led approach rather than chef led.
In order to share my passion for mindful cooking I created my blog “Kitchen Table Baking”, it’s filled with easy to follow recipes for everyday cooking. The idea behind the name “Kitchen Table Baking” is to encourage people back to eating at the kitchen table together, making it the hub of the home and family life. A place where family and friends can sit and chat over a home cooked meal….nourishing not only our bodies but our heart and soul too.
Hannah Faraway
Hannah Faraway is a recent Fine Art graduate from Canterbury Christ Church University with a personal focus on printing and painting. However, her interest in education has led her to volunteer in many learning settings with varied ages and abilities. Therefore, teaching children’s art classes is a natural fit for her current stage as an emerging artist and potential future teacher.
Hannah Frost
I am a fibre artist and have been weaving for almost 2 years. Based in Surrey, I love working with all types of materials to create wall hangings with lots of colour and texture.
Growing up in Leigh-on-Sea, I have always been inspired by the beach and spent my college years studying Fashion & Textiles at South East Essex College. As well as weaving, I love to practise crochet, cross stitch and more recently punch needle. I can never walk past a yarn shop without making a purchase and my yarn stash is steadily getting out of control!
Heather Cooper
My passion for Modern Calligraphy began when I visited a Wedding Fair and attended a short introduction to calligraphy workshop as part of my ticket! I found the art form so relaxing and therapeutic and fell in love instantly. I quickly found my own style and booked myself onto local craft fairs to sell my calligraphy work. My hobby soon turned into an exciting business adventure and being a primary school teacher I decided to combine my skills and began teaching Modern Calligraphy Beginners Workshops in February 2018. Since then, I have taught around 750 people this beautiful skill and am loving every minute. I am lucky enough to be asked to create lots of exciting calligraphy projects including styled shoots, wedding signage/stationery and unique personalised gifts. My favourite thing of all though is sharing my skills with new people so that they can develop their own handmade projects. At Create98, I hope to deliver you a fun and relaxed hen do whilst learning this creative new skill.”
Jaime Fernandez
I have always had a keen interest in wine with my family being from the Rias Baixas region of Spain.
In 2017 I started my WSET exams (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) who are largest global provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications. I am currently qualified up to WSET Level 3 after being award Distinction at Level 2 and Merit at Level 3.
My obsession with wine moved from formal training into a passion for natural, organic and biodynamic wines and a focus on winemaker’s and their stories.
At the start of 2019 my wife and I started Copa Wine as a way of promoting these wines through a series of pop up wine tasting events and food and drink fairs.
In 2020 we launched our online wine shop as further commitment in promoting authentic wines.
Jake Bussell
Jake Robert Bussell is a professional illustrator and designer. Based in Essex, England. After starting his freelance career in 2016 he has since worked with an exciting range of small to large businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and magazines. He holds a degree in Illustration from UCA (Maidstone) and a post graduate degree in art teaching from CCU (Canterbury). Jake’s fascination with traditional master techniques helps to bring realism and clarity to his modern illustrations.
Alongside his work, Jake runs life drawing and painting classes as a qualified teacher and uses his spare time to study, practice and travel. He is also a plein air (outdoor) painter and sketcher, influenced heavily by artist James Gurney, believing that making studies directly from observation fuels his imagination
Jane Cheshire
Jane is a textile artist and quilt designer. She has a passion for traditional hand stitched patchwork, quilting and sewing, which she has been sharing for the past 20 years with beginners and experts alike, through her successful classes and workshops. All her teaching is based around her own designs for quilting and embroidery.
Hilary Jane is a member of The Quilters Guild and has a number of City and Guilds Patchwork and Quilting and City and Guilds Creative Studies qualifications.
When not teaching, Hilary Jane spends her time designing and making beautiful quilts for commissions or her own pleasure.
Jane High
Visual artist, Jane High who is based at her studio at Hadleigh Old Fire Station, has been tutoring since 2010. Jane delivers workshops and demonstrations throughout Essex and has experience of community projects within education and for local charities. Although she produces work in a range of subject matter, Jane is passionate about animal portraiture and has had work accepted by the Mall Galleries in London. Jane mainly works in pastel, oil and acrylic, but also believes in the importance of drawing and observational skills.
Jane Seabrook
I have always had a huge interest in fashion and taught myself to sew as a teenager, designing and making patterns for the garments I imagined but could not find in the shops. I started my career in fashion creating unique dresses from worn jeans imported from the USA and learned to make individual outfits for the fashionistas of the seventies and eighties.
I went into teaching when I had my children and became Head of Textiles at St Bernard’s high school, gaining an MA in Art and Textiles. I have taught all ages from 3 to 70 and love inspiring creativity in others. I love to up-cycle garments and use found materials to make something new and exciting. I now spend my time teaching textiles workshops and painting dramatic scenes of the local environment, which never ceases to inspire me.
Jude Raphael
I have been a qualified hairdresser since 1997 and have specialised in plait-work for over 25 years. I create unique 'plait-while-U-wait' hairstyles at public events and private functions and have been teaching before parent and child workshops for 6 years. I have also provided plait -work styles for Little Havens Hospices.
Julie Walsh
I paint under my maiden name of Julie Swan and currently live in Leigh-on-Sea where I was born and raised. My passion is to create art that lifts the spirit and I like to think of my work as ‘ Wellbeing on the Wall. I am a self taught artist with a background in corporate training and coaching and as a qualified clinical hypnotherapist also an advocate of the benefits of creativity on mental wellbeing. My workshops encourage you to find the joy in playing with colour and uncover your inner artist in a relaxed setting.
Kate Bent
I have a First Class Honors degree in Textiles/Fashion from Winchester School of Art. I have designed a variety of best selling greetings cards, photo albums and plush toys for Tigerprint who sold solely to Marks and Spencer’s. I worked for Tigerprint for over 15 years, along with various other textile companies where I gained valuable experience within the card and textile industries. I am a surface designer where I use appliqué and free-hand machine embroidery to create unique textile art pieces. I have a passion for fabrics and sewing and now I am looking forward to teaching my skills and helping others to unlock their creative potential within this medium.
Katrina Kieffer-Wells
The Senior Course Leader at Bud to Bloom is Katrina Kieffer-Wells. Katrina formed garden design and build company Earth Designs in Spring 2003. Katrina has been a keen gardener since childhood and worked as a florist for many years. After graduating from university in 1998 with a degree in Creative Arts, Katrina went to work as a producer for a prestigious design and events company based in London’s West End. She left in 2002 and decided to couple her love and knowledge of gardening with her creative skills and experience of event management. Earth Designs was born. Since then Katrina and her husband Matt have grown Earth Designs into a successful company with over 250 designs and 100 builds under their belt. Unlike many other garden designers, she has a hands-on, dynamic style allowing the client to become very much a part of the design process. Her work has featured in numerous national newspapers and lifestyle publications over the years.
Leigh-on-Sea Supper Club - Susan Davies
I trained as a chef at Westminster College and have worked at Food by John Lawson. I am also a passionate gardener, I studied with the RHS at Writtle where my love for organic, seasonal food began. I love to create dishes with amazing produce; very often using vegetables from my own garden. My life is food from the garden to the plate!
I set up the Leigh on Sea Supper Club earlier this year; with the aim to share my love of food with creative, seasonal dishes. Our evenings are a celebration of fantastic produce in an informal, friendly environment.
Lisa Meehan
I have a BA Hons Degree in Fine Art Printmaking and currently teach art at Southend Adult Community College and Metal Art School as well as being private portfolio tutor. I also work as Lead Artist across multiple projects for Kinetika, an international design and community art events company.
I am inspired by the shapes and patterns of plants and nature and particularly love the fine line plant studies of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the simple line drawings by Ellsworth Kelly. My drawings from nature are both traditional and expressive and use a variety of different media. The open skies and the seascape of the Thames Estuary feature in my monotype prints and watercolour sketches.
Liz Bleach
I graduated in 1995 with a degree in Film, Video and Photography from University of Westminster and began my working life in publishing. After having a family I worked for a national children’s charity producing their magazine, pursuing my various crafting hobbies as a guilty pleasure, or to furnish our home. I returned to full time study in 2006 and gained a degree in Architecture, before training as a teacher.
I was a teacher of product design, textiles and woodwork at local secondary schools, and explored lots of new materials and creative processes. I learned many of my favourite crafting techniques during my childhood and teens – first from my Mum and then as I pursued it at art college. A 2-year full-time course in fashion and pattern cutting was the starting point for me developing skills in knitting, weaving, and stitch-based textiles of many kinds. An eclectic approach to skills and craft techniques has meant that I have a cross-curricular attitude to crafting. Arts and Crafts traditions of the 19th century coupled with a fascination for modernist designs of the mid-twentieth century underpin my combined use of traditional craft skills and stylish design lines. I am also a committed environmental champion favouring natural or re-used materials which are ethically sourced.
Instagram: @leighgeneralstore
Lizzie Bridge
I studied Fashion and Textiles at Bath College of Higher Education, graduating in 1987 with with a B.Ed Hons degree, specialising in machine knitwear. For the past 31 years I have been the Head of Textiles at Shoeburyness High School, teaching 11-18 year olds all forms of creative textiles through both Technology and Art. My creative passion is developing patterns and textures, inspired by my own photographs of both architecture and nature, as well as the work of Antoni Gaudi, Angie Lewin and Gilda Baron.
Lizzie Ireland
I am a freelance illustrator with a background in illustration , I have a degree from the London college of fashion in fashion illustration. I work as a creative therapist and enjoy using a variety of techniques and mixed media. I am inspired by travelling , nature and enjoy illustrating inspiration from the 1950’s fashion generation and art.
Lola Swain
I am a qualified teacher (BED Hons) and have been working in education for over twenty-five years. During this time, I have taught both children and adults in schools, colleges and workshops at various levels and abilities including those with special needs. I am an exhibiting potter and book artist. The natural world is a major source of inspiration. Nevertheless, I find other things influencing my work such as the incorporation of architectural or cultural inspired detail informed by my travels. My pots are hand-built using traditional coil methods with a surface decoration of coloured and burnished slips. Much of my book artwork combines a variety of techniques including lino, collagraph, marbling, waxed etching, letterpress and paper cuts. I exhibit in various regional exhibitions and art fairs and belong to a number of artists’ groups
Mac and Mini
‘Mac’ & ‘Mini’ are two sisters, Amy & Carla, from Essex. Amy is a full time fibre artist specialising in Modern Crochet and Macrame and she teaches Macrame & Modern Crochet Workshops and private tuition across Essex & London. Carla had a successful career as a scenic artist working in many prestigious theatres and created installations for clients including John Lewis and The Conran Shop before starting her teaching career. She is currently the Head of Art at an Essex school as well as creating fibre art and teaching workshops with Mac & Mini.
Mac & Mini exclusively use cruelty free, vegan yarns and materials and use eco friendly and recycled products as much as possible.
Facebook: Mac & Mini
Insta: Macandminiart
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/macandminiarts
Mark Bradford
I began working life as a graphic designer/illustrator in London as well as a professional artist. A change of career led me to study for a BA Fine Art degree followed by a PGCE and QTLS. I am currently a part time teacher of Art at Chelmsford County High School for Girls teaching GCSE and A level.
I hold regular exhibitions in London and Leigh on Sea, which demonstrate a variety of mediums and techniques. However, my main body of work reflects my love of the sea. My influences and inspiration come mainly from art from 1900 to modern day abstract-expressionism, photorealism. Specifically, Jean Michael Basquiat, Rachel Whiteread, Anslem Kiefer, Robert Rauschenberg, Fiona Banner & Gerhard Richter.
Michelle Passfield
I am a Chartered Institute of Marketing qualified marketing professional. I run my own business, withMichelle, as a marketing consultant. My marketing experience spans two decades, including 15 years in London. I have worked for major law firms, a marketing agency, Anglia Ruskin University, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and a not-for-profit mental health business. I run a training programme for small businesses to learn how to do effective marketing for themselves. I love marketing and strive for others to enjoy it too. withmichellemarketing.co.uk
Morissa Thorn
Throughout my life I have turned time and time again to yoga, for flexibility, of both the mind and body. It has helped me though times both good and bad. Four years ago I decided to take my practise further and I started to teach, at first just Fitness Yoga but then the more I researched and planned for each my classes, the more I fell in love with it all over again and wanted to take my personal practise and well as my teaching practise further. I am an International Yoga Alliance qualified teacher and I have studied the Ashtanga path. The physical – asana – practice is just one small part of yoga. Within the Ashtanga practise there are actually 8 limbs of yoga and for myself I endeavour to embrace their beauty and peace with every aspect of my life. My journey continues and I enjoy taking in the scenery as I go! I love teaching yoga and seeing the changes it brings about both physical and on a deeper, mental level. The peace, calm, self-worth, and general sense of wellbeing it can instil in others is always beautiful and astonishing to see.
Owen Richards
I learnt to cook at my mother’s knee and haven’t stopped since, even if her mother believed men had no place in the kitchen! Growing up in Wales gave access to the best meats, fish and vegetables, but we also experienced new dishes as Mum was always keen to try new recipes. Being able to take early retirement allowed me to turn my passion for food into a new life, letting me share my interests with others. I love the concept of slow food - from bread-making to slow cooked beef ribs, or home cheese-making; my favourite ragù recipe takes at least four hours. Travel for me now means trying local food and wine, and avoiding the tourist traps, not to mention collecting recipes from around the world. I am one half of the Kilted Cooks.
Rachel Begley
I have always had a passion for learning and trying out new crafts, but discovered my love of knitting about 6 years ago and have not looked back since. I have continued to develop my skills with writing knitting patterns, dyeing wool, and am currently learning how to spin fibres into yarn.
I believe strongly in the mental heath benefits of knitting and love sharing my skills with others, and providing an inclusive environment for people to connect, belong, and develop new skills.
Ray Spencer
My parents instilled a love of food and cooking in me from an early age. Living in a multi-cultural part of the country I learnt to cook different world cuisines as a teenager. I mastered the art of chocolate making as well as the local delicacy of the hand raised pork pie by the age of 15. This interest in food and especially technique has grown and my partner and I now enjoy preparing restaurant style food for others.
Ray is also one half of 'The Kilted Cooks' cooking duo.
Richard Kurti, Sam Lierens, Jen Feroze and Maria Solecki
Sam Lierens:
Sam Lierens writes historical fiction under the pen-name Lizzie Page. Her books, set during WW1 and WW2, are published by Bookouture. She has an MA in creative and life writing from Goldsmiths, London and previously taught writing at both South East Essex College and Southend Adult Community College. She has a wealth of writing experience including magazine article, editing and providing web-content. She also wrote the very popular Leigh pantomimes: 'Snow White's got Talent' and 'Cinderelleigh'!At her workshops, you will get started or improve your writing in a fun, informal and encouraging environment.
Jen Feroze:
A former Young Poet of the Year, I have been writing since I was a teenager, and have been published in a variety of regional and national poetry anthologies. I've made a career out of playing with words, first as an editor of children's books, and now as a copywriter with my own business - Jackdaw Editorial. I live in Leigh with my husband Matt and my joyously mad toddler, Eleanor.
Richard Kurti
Richard has been a full time writer for 20 years. Primarily a screenwriter for TV and film, he has also written extensively for radio, and somewhere in the middle wrote two novels.
Maria Solecki
I'm a freelance creative copywriter based in Essex, but I also work remotely too. I'm always looking for exciting projects to get my teeth into, and welcome enquiries from both SMEs and creative agencies, who may be looking for extra help. I come to copywriting from a creative writing background - I work with my clients to help them find the right words to tell their stories.
Sally Chinea
I have a 1st Class Honours Degree in Fine Art and I’m an art club leader, arts award advisor and part of the team organising the Rochford and Hadleigh art trail. I’m proud to be working on site-specific projects for the National Trust, who now hold my work in their permanent collection.
I predominantly work creating 3D, textile pieces, but also manipulate and re-contextualize a wide variety of mundane, found and discarded materials to create a contrast between something which was worthless into something that is valued; value, created by the investment of manual labour, care, consideration and time.
Sarah Goodwin
In my day job I enjoy supporting business owners realise their ambitions but the creative side of me found candle making some years ago.
Originally making for myself and for gifts the hobby has become much more, and it now has a life of its own.
I only make with ingredients that are eco friendly which can be more challenging but produce great results without harming people or the environment.
Learning from many mistakes as well as successes I would like to share my passion for candle making and fragrance.
Simon Fowler
My background is in graphic design and illustration. I find huge satisfaction from working in the creative industry which I have been for the last 25 years, working in fashion, retail and automotive Sectors. Over my career I have been trained to design using adobe products such as photoshop and have been using it since it’s launch many years ago.
Susan Allen
I graduated from Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada in 1982 with a Fine Art Degree in drawing and painting. I exhibit at Two Tree Gallery and annually with the Leigh Art Trail. I teach art at Southend Adult Community College and privately for 10 years as well as guest lectured for Ontario College of Art.
I paint in a realistic style with a modern edge. I am inspired by Leigh and the beautiful British coast, flowers, life and love. I am influenced primarily by the old masters (Artemisia Gentileschi, Rembrandt, Turner) but also have an interest in contemporary artists and I take inspiration from the challenges that different art styles offer. I work primarily in acrylic and watercolour.
Table Stories
Two local producers Hugo’s Pantry and Lovely Bread & Stuff met over a shared love of food. A few coffees and wine later Table Stories was created...
Jo is passionate about food tasting great despite having allergies. When diagnosed as coeliac, she realised there was a lot of food out there but not with the same level of enjoyment therefore strives to change this. Food should be enjoyed by everyone at the table.
A lifelong passionate cook and former chef, for Rachel food is an obsession. After a stint in the creative sector the office was swapped for the kitchen but with one rule, everyone’s invited. Inspired by limitless combinations and the unbridled joy of finding a new favourite. A new obsession was born, bringing exciting flavour creations that cater for all to your table
Tash Manley – Calligraphy by Tash
I’ve always been artistic, studying art at school and later at the London College of Fashion. I have always loved pencil and line drawing as well as photography. After having my daughter I started getting back in touch with my artistic side, which is when I attended a calligraphy course, which I absolutely loved! It was both beautiful to look at but I also found it very relaxing, feeling much calmer after practising it. I later set up my calligraphy business, Calligraphy by Tash, and haven’t looked back! I hope to see you at mine and Farida’s drawing and lettering workshops soon, which we hope will leave you feeling happy that you have made something, learned something new and had a moment to relax!
The Kilted Cooks
Both raised by parents who taught us how to cook from an early age, we love to share our passion for good food with family, friends and a growing band of customers. Our aim is to prepare and serve high quality food in your home, allowing you to enjoy time with your guests. With an extensive library of cookbooks and curious palates, we can take you on culinary journeys. We also specialise in home made breads, crackers, cheeses, ice-creams and chocolates.
Tom O’Callaghan
I have been a Goldsmith for 30 years. I left school and began my apprenticeship in the workshops at C J Vinten goldsmiths in leigh and trained at Sir John Cass faculty of arts. Over the years I have worked alongside some highly talented craftsman and I'm now lucky enough to be designing and hand crafting beautiful bespoke jewellery. I love my job and love the thought of passing my knowledge to others and giving them an insight into what I do.
Vanessa Bradford
I am passionate about vegan cooking and I have always used fresh and where possible local, seasonal and organic produce to cook with. Growing up on a Mediterranean diet, I learned to cook from both my mother and grandmother who could make a beautiful dinner for the family, often with the simplest of ingredients. They encouraged and welcomed help in the kitchen and I still use their recipes but by adding my own twists, have developed my own plant based versions. My partner Mark and I are now living a totally plant based diet. Two of my daughters are also vegan and this has made me explore different tastes and ways of creating delicious meat and dairy free menus as well as opening my eyes to a more ethical way of life.
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