13 Sunderland creatives you might not know about

From Hills Arts Centre and Breeze Creatives in The Athenaeum building to the recent announcement that The Norfolk Hotel is set to be transformed into studios, historic buildings across the city centre have been and continue to be repurposed to provide unique environments for creatives to thrive.

And let's not forget the work underway to build Culture House, a multi-purpose venue that will stand at the heart of the Riverside Sunderland development combining a city library with space for arts and crafts, learning, exhibitions and more.

Sunderland is a city for creatives. And on that note, here's 13 you might not know about...

1.    Faye Greenman

Based out of The Athenaeum building on Fawcett Street ran by visual arts organisation Breeze Creatives, Faye Greenman is an abstract artist who creates one-off canvas paintings, hand-painted clothing items and digital prints. Her expressive and impactful art reflects emotions, whether that's thought-provoking written messages, splatter and drip painting techniques or conceptual shapes.

Instagram: @fayegreenman

Website: www.fayegreenman.com  

2.     Kerry Cook - The Art Room
Kerry works as an art teacher in primary and secondary schools and also teaches in art galleries and museums, locally and nationally. She created The Art Room in 2018 and is now based in The Athenaeum building on Fawcett Street, where she delivers art and craft lessons, including watercolour classes and a Saturday kids' class.

Instagram: @theartroomsunderland
Website: https://www.theartroomsunderland.com/
 

3.     Kathryn Robertson - KR Illustrates
The artist behind many of the striking cityscape murals on display in venues across Sunderland. Kathryn is an illustrator and muralist - working from her studio in the Sunniside quarter of the city - whose hand-drawn art depicts the illustrious history of Sunderland, showcasing a condensed visual of the city often with a single colour running through it.

Featuring Wearside landmarks from the Empire Theatre to the Stadium of Light, Kathryn's work can be found in the likes of Vaux Taproom and the University of Sunderland. She has also worked on the SAFC season card campaign, several community projects across the city and, most recently, was headhunted by Sunderland-born Dave Stewart to illustrate artwork to accompany his newest album, Ebony McQueen. 

Instagram: @kr.illustrates

Website: https://krillustrates.com/
 

4.    Alex Middleton

Working as a graphic designer for Sunderland AFC for almost 12 years, Alex has worked on some exciting projects from the 21/22 Sunderland home shirt design, a crowd mosaic based on the black cats' eyes graphic, and helped with the branding in the Wembley dressing room during the playoff final that saw the club promoted to the Championship. He's also an artist in his own right and worked on the numerals for the Nike England Kits which were worn at the UEFA Euro 2020.

Instagram: @norelationtokate

Website: www.norelationtokate.co.uk/

5.     Jessica Andrews
Jessica writes fiction, and her debut novel Saltwater was published by Sceptre in 2019 and won the Portico Prize in 2020. She recently published her second novel, Milk Teeth, and was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction Futures 2022. She also co-runs The Grapevine, a literary and arts magazine, co-presents a literary podcast called Tender Buttons and is a contributing editor at ELLE magazine as well as writing for the Guardian and the Independent among others.

Instagram: @itbeginswiththebody
Website: http://www.jessica-andrews.com/

 

6.     Deborah Haynes - Deborah Haynes Millinery
Deborah is a skilled milliner who crafts bespoke hats, fascinators and headpieces from her workshop in Hills Arts Centre, where she will soon be opening a showroom for customers to view a ready to wear collection, available to buy or hire, as well as to book appointments for made-to-order pieces.

Instagram: @deborahhaynesmillinery

7.    Liam O'Neill

Digital creator and freelance designer, Liam O'Neill helps brands connect with their audiences through augmented reality filters and experiences. From his studio in the Sunniside Quarter of the city, Liam creates Instagram filters, TikTok effects and Snapchat Lens' for leading brands such as Amazon, Adidas, Facebook, Nike and Urban Outfitters.

Instagram: @liamo.studio

Website: www.liam-o.com

8.     Jade Tapson
Jade is a Sunderland-based glass artist who works from her studio, at the National Glass Centre, creating intricate designs in which patterns can transform through the controlled entrapment of air within the glass. Her glass work can be purchased through the National Glass Centre, and she also creates colourful glass jewellery pieces which can be found on Etsy.
 

Instagram: @jadetapsonglass
Website: www.jadetapsonglass.com 

9.     Nicola Pallas - Creative Minds - North Start Counselling CIC
Nicola works in partnership with members of the community to deliver an accessible service that aims to improve and support the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and adults through creative and holistic techniques. Creative Minds is based out of Hills Arts Centre on Waterloo Place, where Nicola and her team provide unique and tailored sessions to individuals, combining talking therapies with creative activities and workshops.

Instagram: @creativemindsnsc
Website: https://www.creativemindsnsc.com/

10.  Fiona Mullen
Freelance illustrator Fiona Mullen sells prints of her playful, pop culture inspired illustrations, which you can see on display - and buy - in Grinder Coffee Co in Hills Arts Centre. She also works on custom prints and commissions.

Instagram: @fionamullen.studio

 

11.  Sarah Metcalfe - Maneiro
Sarah set up Maneiro with her partner Ben during the first lockdown, an online print and design store specialising in North East themed retro prints and hand poured candles. From a postcard themed 'Greetings from Sunlun' print to handmade 'Areet' candles, Maneiro can also be found at Tynemouth Market at weekends.

Instagram: @maneiro.store
Website: www.maneiro.co.uk/

12.  Iain Rowan - Sunderland Creative Writing CIC
A Sunderland-based writer, Iain has sold more than 30 short stories and one, called 'Birds of the Mountain', was shortlisted for - and came second in - the 2019 Costa Short Story Award. Many have also been reprinted in anthologies and he has won a Northern Writers' Award. In 2021, he set up Sunderland Creative Writing CIC, a non-profit community interest company, which is aimed at everyone - Cfrom those exploring creative writing for the first time, to those who are looking to move on to publication and performance.

Website: http://sunderlandcreativewriting.com/
 

13.  Romy Sammon - RomyPrints
Based out of Hills Arts Centre, Romy is an illustrator and tattoo artist who creates everything from prints and clothing, to colouring books and wall hangings. Her bold and colourful illustrations are influenced by feminism and pop culture, while her tattoo designs evoke a sense of mystery and magic.

Instagram: @romyprints
Website: www.romyprints.co.uk