Get To Know Our Fabulous Designers & Presenters with Our Five Fun Facts!
We’re really lucky to be able to work with our amazing designers & presenters who are constantly developing brilliant inspiration for you to enjoy. Get to know them better with our five fun facts. There’s links to their social, so you can keep up to date with their latest news plus click the button below to try our step-by-step projects.
If you’re interested in discussing working with Creative Expressions as a designer, a presenter on TV or as part of our design team, please contact Giedre on giedre@creative-expressions.uk.com, she would be happy to hear from you.
Sue Wilson
Designer
I have been crafting in some form or another since I was very young. Card making became my sole focus in 1992 and it has been so exciting that I have never looked back. The way in which card making has grown and evolved over the years has kept my interest and allowed my creativity to flourish. I have totally immersed myself in the craft market by designing cutting dies, stamps and embossing folders as well as working with the Creative Expressions team to develop new crafting products.
Duck and hoisin sauce with spring onions, cucumber and wrapped in an Asian pancake, could eat it every day!
Not a marmite girl at all!
I used to do Stained Glass, loved it, but expensive to do. It isn’t that weird though, I suppose sand art in glass containers is the strangest hobby I used to do, but I was in my late teens then.
My favourite holiday destination is the next one (wherever that may be) I don’t usually go back to a place that I have been, there are just too many places to see in the world.
I could listen to Wicked Games by Chris Isaac over and over again.
Sam Poole
Designer
I have always been a crafter from an early age. I used to spend hours drawing and making things from cardboard or whatever I could get my hands on. I started with cross stitch and then got into rubber stamping and card making. I love designing rubber stamps and I get excited every time the rubber lands on my desk. Stamping is just so versatile.
Roast Dinner
Against – Yuck!
I tried making paper recently 😊
Day Dreamer
South of France
Francoise Read
Designer & TV Presenter
Creating is a big part of who I am so my stamp designs reflect my personality, interests and things I am passionate about. Although I have been part of the craft industry for over 20 years, I still love it now as much as I did when I first started. Over the years I have written books, magazine articles, taught workshops and demonstrated up and down the country and abroad to share my passion.
Banana milkshake…..specifically McDonald’s Banana milkshake
On a lilo in a large swimming pool.
What a wonderful world sung by Louis Armstrong….reminds me of my dad.
Now that would be telling! …..honestly probably no one!!
Greece…..love the people, islands and Moussaka!
Jane Gill
Designer & TV Presenter
I’ve been a creative person all my life. For the past twenty odd years I’ve been in the papercraft industry teaching, demonstrating, designing and have appeared on a TV craft channel too and it’s all thanks to rubber stamps! My love of drawing has opened all kinds of creativeness in the stamping world and now I’m a member of a fabulous team at Creative Expressions as one of their stamp designers.
My favourite food to eat forever would be moussaka with broccoli on the side. Pudding? There has to be a pudding, I’d have steamed syrup sponge and custard.
Marmite….I love it. Especially marmite and marmalade sandwiches. I’ve eaten them since I was a child.
My favourite song is ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ by Arthur Kent as sung by Morecambe and Wise. Just makes you want to sing and dance.
My desert island companion would be my cat….or maybe several. I’d become a mad cat lady.
My favourite holiday destination…now let me see, I’ve travelled and lived abroad in many countries, but I love a beach and the sea. I also love Great Britain and where I live now in Poole, Dorset we have an amazing beach and it’s different everyday and fabulous in all weathers. So I wouldn’t travel abroad, I’d stay here.
Helen Colebrook
Designer
Helen is the owner and creator of Journal with Purpose, a place for all things curated and loved by her.
For Helen, Journaling is a method of self-expression and self-reflection which supports a positive and mindful outlook.
With two books under her belt and numerous magazine interviews, we are delighted to work with her and create growing collections to inspire Journalers and Crafters alike!
Going to an important work meeting and realising there was a big lump in my trouser leg, which turned out to be a pair of tights
Being in nature or doing something creative
“The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by Robin Sharma. I read it every year.
Salt & Vinegar crisps. I love chocolate, but I’m definitely more of a savoury girl.
Anywhere in the Caribbean
Jane Davenport
Designer
Jane Davenport first began her professional life as Fashion Illustrator after studying in Paris.
Jane is renowned for her bold and bright Art Journaling which she discovered in 2010. Her love for colour is unparalleled, along with her vibrant enthusiasm to teach everyone they are an Artist just waiting to be unleashed!
Jane lives in Australia with her husband Angus, and her two dogs, Gesso and Tinsel.
Yikes… I live in a very boho, surfer-girl region of Australia and I did the feather in the hair thing for a bit. Looked cute though!
Marilyn Monroe filming “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in THAT pink dress, or Audrey Hepburn on one of her goodwill missions for UNICEF in Africa. Very different experiences, but to see the world from those women’s eyes, doing something they loved would be the ultimate (two of my favourite StarPower inks are named for these incredible spirits ‘Marilyn’ is the vibrant hot pink of THAT dress and ‘Audrey’ is inspired by her quintessential Little Black Dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s).
For! ( and I am going to have some on toast as soon as I finish these questions!)
I am absolutely both. I love gathering facts and then day-dreaming with those facts. I have a sharp interest in ancient cultures and complex mythology. I like to imagine what life must have been like in the presence of those different, omnipresent gods and monsters.
That’s hard because the world is amazing and I love to travel, but as I am just about to head off to Japan for the 5th time, I think that must be my answer. The functional design, the structure, the politeness, and amongst all of that is a whimsicality and love of cuteness that can’t be contained and pops out everywhere!
Cathie Shuttleworth
Designer
Having come from a family of professional artists and spending all my childhood with a pencil in my hand, Art and Design is the only career I have ever wanted to do. After formal training, I have been lucky enough to be a full time designer for over 35 years. I specialise in hand illustration and my distinct style is as popular as it has ever been.
Having my hair professionally straightened, it lasted for half an hour before I went back to curly!! I looked dreadful!!
Drawing, all day, every day.
Winnie the Pooh, LOVED him as a child!!
My dog Rooby…oh and my husband as he is very practical, and I wouldn’t starve to death.
Any book about world war two prison camps, my father was a prisoner of war, so I have a real interest in it.
Jane Beljo
Designer
Jane lives in Zagreb, Croatia with her family and is the incredible talent behind Jane’s Doodles which she established back in 2011! Art was always Jane’s favourite school subject while attending school in Canada, where she lived before moving country. Describing her artwork as “cute and whimsical” which indeed it is, Jane’s illustrations are full of adorable animals and storytelling.
I love Greek food and could eat Gyros every day!
My favourite way to relax is crocheting and going for hikes.
Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice.
Daydreamer.
I would love to go to Ireland or Scotland.
Andy Skinner
Designer
I have drawn and painted from a very young age, I first started experimenting with mixed media 28 years ago, mainly on canvases using acrylic paints and products from DIY stores. There were very few mediums back then compared to what we have available today. My inspiration comes from many areas, while at school I worked every Sunday at a blacksmiths forge, after leaving school I served a 5-year apprenticeship as a toolmaker, so my love of metal, rust and patinas originate from there.
Sunday Roast.
A good film and nibbles.
FOR!
Don’t stop me now (Queen).
The Chronicles of Narnia.
James Hembrow
Card Designer & TV Presenter
James is an experienced crafter who is well-versed in papercrafts and even runs his own successful craft business. Originally, James started out in theme park design before moving to slightly smaller sized papercrafts. For him, crafting is all about learning new things and sharing ideas, all whilst having a fun and relaxing time!
Michael J Fox when he played Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy. Because I’d love to travel in a time machine!
‘Pure Imagination’ sung by Gene Wilder in the original film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It’s one of my all time favourite films.
Fossil Hunting! I have fond memories when I was very young of going to the beach with my Grandfather for fossil hunts. As a kid I always aspired to find a Dinosaur but when it never happened I gave up!
As an adult I don’t read many books but my absolute favourite and most read growing up was The BFG by Roald Dahl, it’s totally ‘Scrumdiddlyumptious’!
Theme parks! As a theme park attractions designer in a past life, I now really enjoy being a guest and am currently working my way through a list of the best and more obscure ones around the Globe. As for my favourite, it’s always the next one I’m going to visit as I love the thrill of new parks and rides!
Gwen Fletcher
Card Designer & TV Presenter
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t make things. As a little girl, I would be making dolls house rooms from cardboard boxes, complete with carpet and curtains, wallpaper and furniture. I knitted, sewed, drew, painted, did cross stitch, some of which I still do today. Then I discovered decorative eggcraft and a whole new window was opened to me. Through that, I found rubber stamping and my papercraft adventure began. I find inspiration everywhere – in a sunrise, nature, a piece of fabric, even in a building, there’s always something to draw from.
A food I could eat forever would be cheese. Love cheese but not too stinky and obviously, accompanied by some rich red wine!
My favourite way to relax would be with a good book.
My most unusual hobby would be my egg decorating.
I don’t tend to re-read books but one of my favourite series I have read is The Painted Man from the Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett.
My favourite holiday destination would have to be Disney World in Florida.