MEET OUR people

Our people are a collection of makers and creatives who care passionately about their craft or the work that we do. Resident makers, a dedicated team of staff, trustees and our tutors and associate makers – they’re our people.  

If you would like to find out more about Making Space please get in touch or join us for one out our upcoming events. If you are interested in having a studio at Making Space, being an associate or trustee please send us an email, we'd love to hear from you.  

If you'd like to support the work that we do, please click here to find out more.

resident makers

KELLY OTTESEN
​resident maker

Kelly is a ceramist and folk artist specialising in hand-built sculpture and ceremonial ceramics. A teacher, facilitator and  storyteller with a passion for traditional crafts. She has been working with and teaching ceramics for twenty years, in and around the Portsmouth area.  Kelly takes inspiration from organic forms and colours. Her work is highly textured using foraged natural materials. Kelly is a small batch potter, each piece created with care, investing her intention in each part of the making process.

​HANNAH HORN
​resident maker

Hannah is a fine artist/illustrator. Her work draws inspiration from the natural world, while incorporating surreal and often fantastical elements. With an eye for composition and utilising a combination of paint and highly detailed pen and ink line-work, she creates elegant and beautiful images. Originally studying Fashion Illustration at London College of Fashion, Hannah has gone on to create artwork for publishing, advertising, fashion and branding. Her work illustrating Katherine Rundell’s The Explorer earned her Illustrator of the Year at the Children’s Book Awards 2018.

SHARON JUSTICE
​resident maker

Sharon is a designer/jeweller, working predominantly in silver, she uses diverse techniques ranging from forging, roller printing and etching to woven metals.  Often surface decoration, semi-precious stones, patination, and gold are used to accent her work.

​HELENA SYMES
​resident maker

While I was studying for my degree in Fine Art (Painting) I discovered a love of geometric forms, clean lines and colour. I have since travelled extensively in India and it was there that I began my jewellery making journey. I studied with a jeweller in Rajasthan over several years and continued to expand my knowledge and skills on my return to the UK. .
The discoveries I made as a painter continue to inspire my jewellery designs. I like to challenge myself when making pieces and enjoy incorporating other materials where I can. I work mainly with sterling silver and anodised aluminium, both hand dyed and upcycled elements.  ​

​JULIAN JEREMY 
​resident maker

Julian is a Hampshire-based British milliner who specialises in handmade bespoke hats and headpieces. Julian's focus is on creating pieces for clients that want to be noticed for their individuality and personal style. Using quality materials, Julian combines both traditional and contemporary millinery techniques, with meticulous attention to detail. The design directive is to always create pieces that flatter the wearer, whilst also complementing the occasion and the clothes.

Sue colyer
​resident maker

Sue is a watercolour artist  whose artwork attempts to capture the 'sense of place' that nature gives you.  She aims to paint artwork that inspires, uplifts and connects with the viewer. 
​
Sue is a self taught artist who taught for many years, and specialises in watercolours. She loves to experiment with different techniques and surfaces and enjoys pushing the boundaries of the medium.

​RICHARD WALKER
​resident maker

Richard studied gilding at the University of Portsmouth and has now been gilding for over ten years. As well as teaching the fine art of gilding to participants of all levels he now practises a full range of professional gilding services including for internal and external works, surface design and consultancy, heritage and architectural works, as well as gilding for interior design and historic monuments. Richard offers a range of classes in gilding, you can contact him here for more information.

​KATHRYN GREEN
resident maker

Kathryn Green is a freelance textile designer and lecturer. Her life and work experiences are diverse; each one contributing to her development and personal understanding, which she draws on for her textiles. Kathryn is currently exploring the traditional Japanese process of Shibori, which is a technique that uses methods of resistance within the dyeing process.
Kathryn Green graduated in 2007, with a First Class Honours degree in Fashion and Textiles. Since then she has been working as a freelance textile designer and lecturer in further education. Her life and work experiences are diverse, each one contributing to her development and personal understanding, which she draws on for her textiles, as she states, “I am my experiences.”

associate makers & tutors

tanya & Bethany Wood
wood & daughters
​associate maker/tutor

We are mother and daughter, Tanya & B - sharing our enthusiasm and passion, bringing together life-long interests, making things we love with love. Creativity for both of us has been a faithful friend. We are multidisciplinary artists, creative souls, living a colourful life by squeezing every drop of joy from each day.

kas williams 
​associate maker

I am a mixed media artist and I make sophisticated contemporary artworks from interesting collaborations of materials and methods. ​I love colour and for me it has a lyrical energy that I’ve always been drawn to. I also have a fascination with pattern and texture and the floating artworks are a way I have found to combine all three, creating artworks you can re-visit to discover something different each time. ​Music and sound are passions too and the visual associations they create are strong influences.  I see a similarity in the layering of colour shade and pattern with layering of sound tone and texture in composition.

elisa Dodd
​shake your glass
associate maker/tutor

I create glass homeware gifts and glass wall art. The techniques of kiln forming glass I use include fusing, slumping, casting and kiln carving, I am also familiar with the hot glass technique of lampworking. I believe my glass products and workshops bring colour and happiness to the people involved.
My quality homeware collections and art pieces will energize your style and bring a striking focus to your living spaces.

kath clay 
​associate maker

I am a self-taught silver clay artist, with many years experience making silver jewellery. I learnt how to use this amazing material in 2011 and went on to create Silver Magpie - a keepsake company. In 2020 I returned to my roots and found a passion for teaching silver clay workshops. I love sharing this knowledge, seeing the variety of creations made and watching reactions as it turns from clay to silver. 

staff

faye hughes
director

Faye has worked in leadership roles in arts and heritage from listed buildings to opera, theatre, film, fine art and crafts. Her aspiration is to create a warm and nurturing space for making and makers, driven by the belief that culture is for everyone. 
Experienced in revitalising and establishing organisations in the arts, heritage and charitable sectors, creative industries and across initiatives and small businesses. 
She works in supporting creative people to realise their potential and fulfil their aspirations, and to facilitate cultural engagement for those who believe the arts are not for them.
Faye joined Making Space in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. Previously she was founding Artistic Director at the Fitzrovia Chapel.

ami hyde
​outreach project manager

Ami has worked at Making Space since it opened back in 2007. Over the years she has had a studio at Making Space, taught creative sessions, organised the outreach projects and now looks after the entire creative programme for Making Space.
With a background in Fashion and Textiles and her own creative businesses Ami understands and see the importance of Making Space from all angles. She has a lifelong learning qualification and is a trained Arts Award Advisor.  When not at Making Space Ami has her own wedding and events business Lo & Behold Bespoke and runs one of the hottest Wedding Fairs on the Southcoast!

bethany wood
​communications
​co-ordinator 

Bethany (or B) is a qualified Graphic Designer and visual artist who joined the Making Space team in 2022. She is the woman behind all of Making Space's beautiful marketing and communications. When not at Making Space, B loves composing and playing music, writing poetry and creating alongside her mother for their creative brand Wood & Daughters. B's style is fun, colourful & quirky!

ken parry 
​finance manager 

Ken Parry has been providing support with financial management to Making Space since 2016 and is the Company Secretary. Ken initially had a 20-year career as a theatre lighting designer and technician before moving into arts management and dance development.
He worked for Hampshire Dance for 13 years until its closure in 2015. He then concentrated on finance and joined the staff of Play to the Crowd in 2017 and Blue Apple Theatre in 2018. In his spare time, he is actively involved in Chichester & District Archaeological Society and is their Treasurer.

kelly ottesen
kiln technician

Kelly is a ceramist and folk artist specialising in hand-built sculpture and ceremonial ceramics. A teacher, facilitator and  storyteller with a passion for traditional crafts. She has been working with and teaching ceramics for twenty years, in and around the Portsmouth area.  Kelly takes inspiration from organic forms and colours. Her work is highly textured using foraged natural materials. Kelly is a small batch potter, each piece created with care, investing her intention in each part of the making process.

peter levy
​technician

Peter is a working ceramicist and has been involved with Making Space for many years, from having a studio here to teaching our courses. He currently helps us in a technician role. 

trustees

nick wood
treasurer

Nick is the treasurer trustee for Making Space and has over 40 years experience working in banking/finance. He has previously held similar roles with other charities including a specialist studio provider for artists.
Nick is keen to help provide opportunities for local residents to experience as well as create art and craft as well as the benefits this can bring and sees his involvement in Making Space being key to this. 

kate spresser
​trustee

Kate is an IT professional with over 20 years’ experience helping organisations to gain value from technology. She has also worked with young people to encourage them to consider careers in technology.
Kate is passionate about the importance of making and of professional makers to society. She has always had an interest in making objects herself and these personal lifelong attempts at making have given her a deep appreciation of the skill involved in creating useful and beautiful objects.

ali molloy
trustee

desmond webb
trustee

During my fifty year career I have managed the maintenance and project management of refurbishments to;
  • Public and Private residential property.
  • Schools, fire stations, libraries.
  • Pubs and Restaurants with a portfolio of over 300 individual premises for a well know national company.
Now retired, I still work part-time looking after a regional theatre and now volunteer on the board at Making Space, offering advice and guidance on the main Leigh Park Premises and elsewhere as needed.

richard walker 
​trustee

I provide consultancy and teaching to many educational establishments and organisations throughout the U.K, Europe, America and the Middle East. Alongside this, I also provide practical project management and completion for high-end interiors and restoration services in museum, governmental and private practice.
Making Space is a company limited by guarantee no 04482576 and a registered charity no 1108387
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