Our Tutors

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

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.

I am a private tutor, life coach and lecturer. I completed a PGCE (Canterbury Christchurch University) and a PhD (The University of Nottingham) in European cinema and taught at The University of Nottingham and Maynooth University, Ireland in the areas of German film and representations of feminism and otherness in film. My published work covers the subjects of British heritage dramas and representations of domestic space in film, literature and photography. In my classes, you will learn a lot about film, elements of film-making and how culture is represented on-screen.

Blown Fuse Theatre Company produces innovative theatre for inquisitive audiences, consisting of two female multidisciplinary artists wanting to create new performance possibilities and dissect the human condition. Exploring various theatre techniques, we aim to portray stories using multiple disciplines, lighting styles, elements of sound and storytelling techniques, captivating our audiences by engaging all senses. We are passionate about developing the skills of young people who are breaking into the industry, and offer various workshop programmes to schools, colleges and universities.

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.

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 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.”

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'.

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 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”.

Gabby has been styling events in London for the last decade. She moved to Leigh two years ago and transformed her business into a Styling & Floristry company called Nettle & Fern. Nettle & Fern is run by: Gabby, Carleigh, & Ellie, all of whom are equally creative and share the same passion for flowers. Their company ethos is to be as locally sourced as possible. Most of the foliage and florals in their arrangements has been foraged or grown in their cutting garden.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

My love of all things crafty began from a very early age, and I have developed my skills over many years expanding my knowledge through courses, workshops and experience. I first attended a felt making residential course in Perth Scotland about 10 years ago, and my passion for this delightful ancient craft has grown over the years. I have since attended residential workshops in London, Ross on Wye and Plymouth. My work utilises the colour and texture of yarns and fleece to develop vessels, garments and accessories. I have also created wall hangings and framed work where I combine a variety of materials and textures to create abstract and themed work.

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.

Professional photographer, Kana Waiwaiku, studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martin & is known as an industry standout because of his unique and vibrant style. Kana divides his demanding schedule between teaching his popular workshops and creating unique, powerful images for commercial clients. His impactful style not only sets him apart from his peers, but helps him promote the importance dynamic visuals. Kana was the recipient of the Getty Images Creative Bursary 2018 and now works with Getty Images worldwide on long from, creative and advertising projects. The Getty Images Creative Bursary is an award for emerging photographers with interesting and unique ideas or styles, the competition is worldwide and Kana was the only the recipient from the U.K. and only one of 3 worldwide. Locally Kana has been Metals’ Artist in Residence and is currently touring his debut exhibition.

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.

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.

Ali Pretty / Jo Beal / Sofie Layton / Mike Johnston For more info, please see http://www.kinetikaonline.co.uk/who-we-are/

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.

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

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.

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

Lu Williams is a multi disciplinary artist with a practice that takes many forms- event makers, self publishers, sculptor, writer, community organiser and workshop facilitator. Living and working in Essex, Lu’s work is strongly linked to social activism, feminism and working class culture. Since graduating with a BFA in Fine Art from The University of Oxford in 2016, Lu has developed Grrrl Zine Fair compromised of self publishing fairs, events celebrating women and LGBT+ culture, a pop up zine library and the zine Grrrl In Print, exploring contemporary DIY culture alongside hosting zine making workshops. These workshops see zine making as an adaptable way of making art and literature accessible; elevating craft labour and working with communities outside of the insular art world, with a focus on creating a culture that reflects the workshop participants, rather than those featured in glossy magazines. She has worked with and hosted workshops for Women Prize for Fiction, Natwest, V&A Museum, British Film Institute, Metal, Soho Radio, Jagermeister, National Trust, OVADA Gallery, Scottee, Chopping Block Gallery, Bow Arts and created the Grrrl Zine Fair stage at Village Green Festival in 2017 with the support of Arts Council England.

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.

After studying Philosophy & English at King's College, Cambridge, Richard worked at the BBC as a TV sound recordist. This led to a career as a freelance director, and then a move into full time screenwriting. In 2013 he branched out into new areas, with a debut novel, Monkey Wars, which was longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, shortlisted for the UKLA Book Awards, and won its category at the Coventry Inspiration Book Awards.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 2015 I set up Delirium Calligraphy and Design when on an extended break from my career as a chartered accountant. I wanted to pursue my passion and what makes me happy in life, because that’s what it’s all about! Having loved all things creative for as long as I can remember, I enrolled in a modern calligraphy course and from there, I have a developed my skills in lettering using a variety of materials and mediums. I honed my design skills further enabling me to develop the luxury products I now create, such as wedding invitations, event stationery, signage and  bespoke calligraphy. I find inspiration all around in colour, patterns, organic textures, typography, old lettering & nature

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.

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.

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. Sent from my iPhone