Alison never really knew what she wanted to do and has always flitted from one job to another and is happy to say she’s ‘just winging’ it! But her feet have been firmly in one place since turning her dream of working with UK artists into a reality after sadly losing her sister to suicide in 2005.

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Changing a negative into a positive helped Alison heal and her happy place is the result of so much
passion, hard work and determination to make each day count. When she’s not in the gallery she can be found in yellow wellies in her gorgeous garden. Being
outdoors with her flowers, fruit and veg is the perfect place to help her switch off and she firmly believes it’s the best medicine and should be prescribed regularly!

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The great outdoors calls her whenever it can and she loves nothing more than a good stomp with her family or friends around the beautiful valley she lives and works in.

Ness is lovely, calm and an ever-reliable team member. You'll know who she is straight away as she has the most fabulous pink hair and colourful clothes which reflect her bright and cheery disposition! She is a fountain of knowledge, and we secretly think she'd make the best local tour guide; perfect if you're visiting on holiday!

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Ness was an RAF child, born in Cyprus and spent her childhood moving with her family to Germany and then various locations around
the UK. She has a love for Scandinavian countries and spends her many holidays exploring them. One of her favourite trips being Iceland which was inspired by her love of the film Walter Mitty.

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Ness loves being busy and visiting local areas for long walks and you'll always find her with a camera in her hand, ready to take photos of dramatic landscapes that she then uses within her own textile artworks, spending many hours happily stitching away.

Helen has always been passionate about contemporary craft and spends a lot of time at events both as a customer and selling her own work. She loves people! Her
family laughs at her for striking up conversations with people she doesn't know, and we often find her chatting away with someone in the gallery about all manner of random things.

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Away from Heart Gallery Helen enjoys wandering aimlessly around forests and wild places. As a child she wanted to be a botanist or a ranger so plants and animals are a constant source of inspiration and joy and she often references them in her own work.

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Helen also really hates talking about herself and is much happier writing nice things about other people! This is why she is the perfect team member to offer a mentoring to our artists.

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Her favourite colour is yellow.

Alison is our ever so friendly scouser who has spent most of her young adult life moving around the country and travelling to far off destinations before settling in the Pennines with her husband and young daughter.

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She loves nothing more than exploring the beautiful dramatic landscapes and visiting the many coffee shops for a good slice of cake!

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She's always been creative and even won an international sugar craft competition in Telford when she was a child!

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When not being creative in the Gallery Alison spends many hours drawing, making intricate architectural models and creating delicate artwork out of wire.

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Holidays are spent in the family campervan around the UK in all weathers! But even when it is raining Alison has a lovely smile on her face to brighten our day and keep us feeling positive.

Antonella has been one of our much loved local jewellers in Heart Gallery for a number of years now creating new collections for us. In Autumn 2023 she also joined our little team on the gallery floor.

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She enjoys long walks with her family and dog in the Calder valley,
collecting wild flowers and grasses along the way for inspiration for her creative practice.

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Antonella likes to take spontaneous
opportunities for wild swimming, locally or in the Lake District where she can also find peace and quiet out on a paddle board. 

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Recently she started piano lessons and when at home you can find her
crafting things out of cardboard with her children or doing a bit of DIY.

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Antonella will be able to chat all things jewellery with you on the days she is in the gallery and if you want to commission something special then do seek her out.