James Steventon
Director
james@fermynwoods.org
James Steventon is Director of Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, having previously been Education Officer for the organisation for many years. James is an artist, writer, and runner, based in Northamptonshire; Senior Lecturer (Foundation) at The School of Art, Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University; and External Examiner for Contemporary Art Practice, Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University.
In 2021 James was nominated as a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in recognition of his support of young contemporary artists through his work at Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, his championship of innovative, emerging and impactful arts practice, and his participation in training and advocacy work through Engage as Digital Special Interest Representative.
Abbie Canning
Education Curator
abbie@fermynwoods.org
Abbie Canning is Education Curator for Fermynwoods Contemporary Art. Abbie is an interdisciplinary artist, often working with digital technology, based between Rutland and The Peak District, and is East Midlands Representative for Engage. Abbie is passionate about the impact that the arts and spending time outdoors can have on wellbeing and is often found out walking her very smelly dog. In 2020, Abbie was selected as part of ‘The National Lottery’s 2020 Portraits of the People’ which honoured 13 artistic champions across the UK for making a significant difference during the pandemic. Abbie was subsequently nominated as a Fellow of Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in recognition of her work supporting disabled young people to gain confidence, self esteem and develop essential life skills through engagement with contemporary art.
Jenny Johnson
Education Coordinator
jenny@fermynwoods.org
Jenny Johnson is Education Coordinator for Fermynwoods Contemporary Art. Jenny began her career as a freelance costume designer and with an emphasis on contemporary dance, circus and aerial hoop artist costumes, with a portfolio full of designs made to challenging technical specifications. Her creative flair led her into the world of corporate events and celebrity parties, building scenic installations and creating props for high profile clientele, lavish weddings and various festivals, including Glastonbury, Download, Bestival, Boomtown, and Hyde Park’s “Winter Wonderland”. More recently her handiness with tools and woodwork led her to design, build and install Escape Room puzzles and sets. Her passion for creating the unusual continues into her personal life as she lives in a quirky handcrafted “tiny home” and has also created a unique off grid solar powered workshop.
Garry Smiler
Education Coordinator (Maternity Cover)
garry@fermynwoods.org
Garry Smiler has an extensive background in circus performance, construction and teaching, with a history of building guardianship, including living in schools and castles. Working in events led him to realise the amount of waste accumulated during installs. Garry converts vans into campers, channeling his passion for reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded. Garry will be facilitating our workshops with The CE Academy, with his previous activity being described by students as “the best day ever”. Garry will also be helping to maintain our artist residency and outreach venue Sudborough Green Lodge.
Stuart Moore
Education Coordinator
stuart@fermynwoods.org
Stuart Moore is Education Coordinator for Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, having taught in secondary and post sixteen phases. Stuart is a sound artist / microtonal composer that works closely with technology. His work explores the relationship between experience of the involuntary soundscape and purposeful human composition, by way of studying the roots of the perception of music. Stuart’s work is driven by his belief that sound is the most direct expression of human feeling. He has developed a number of unique microphones and digital processes and finds it hard to even spell the word ‘tidy’.
Jack Page
Education Coordinator
jack@fermynwoods.org
Jack Page is Education Coordinator for Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, helping support the delivery of our CE Academy and Hospital Outreach Alternative Provision programmes. Jack brings his experience of visiting nearly 60 countries, including an expedition to Everest Base Camp, teaching in China and Cambodia, acting, performing and managing live events.
Ella Harvey
Social Media Coordinator
ella@fermynwoods.org
Ella Harvey is Social Media Coordinator for Fermynwoods Contemporary Art. Ella has a BA Art and Design from the University of Leeds, where she studied the ephemerality of sculpture. After a career in social media marketing working across various fields including interior design, online retail, FMCG and more, she has since traveled the world and has started her own business, Sunday Serendipity – an ecologically conscious womenswear brand, consisting of products that are hand-dyed from natural materials. The connection between community and art drives her passion for both marketing and social media. Most recently, Ella moved from London to Northamptonshire to enjoy a quieter, more “green” way of life!
SUBTERRA (Marie-Chantal Hamrock & Astrid Björklund)
Guest Curators for the Fermynwoods Podcast
subterra@fermynwoods.org
SUBTERRA are guest curators for the Fermynwoods Podcast for our Xylophobia programme. Otherwise known as Marie-Chantal Hamrock and Astrid Björklund, previously collaborating for Aerial Community Radio, Aberdeen, SUBTERRA “navigates speculative narratives of the chthonic (of relating to or inhabiting the underworld) through text, poetry, soundscapes and music.”