Graduate Spotlight: Want to Learn More About Our Former Associates?
Since Creative Spaces began in 2021, we have had the pleasure of working with a diverse group of talented creatives graduate from the Creative Spaces Programme. Here’s a list of Associate Programme graduates:
Past Creative Spaces Members
Mia Osborne | Producer | 2021-2025
As someone who grew up in rural Dumfries & Galloway, Mia centred much of her work around how local people—particularly young people—engaged with creativity in a rural context. This was something she explored in her role as producer for Creative Spaces.
Mia supported the three Associates annually through their journey in the Creative Spaces programme and collaborated with them to help build a sustainable community for young creatives in Dumfries & Galloway. Her work with young people was widely recognised in the region for its impact, as reflected by her win in the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards 2022 for Arts and Culture.
Mia approached projects with creativity at the core, while also championing the importance of non-traditional creative media and challenging stereotypes within the creative industry. This was communicated through meaningful, embedded and collaborative community work with organisations and projects that aimed to enhance the local area and the lives of its people.
In addition to her role with Creative Spaces, Mia was part of the in-house production team, delivering a wide range of community events. She also worked freelance as a creative producer, leading a variety of projects ranging from community consultations to large-scale events.
Erin Aitchinson | Marketing | 2023-2025
After graduating with an MA (Hons) degree in English and Film Studies in 2022, Erin returned to Dumfries & Galloway to pursue a career in communications and marketing close to home. She completed a marketing internship with Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, which sparked an interest in working within the third sector. Erin was drawn to The Stove’s grassroots creative placemaking work and appreciated its positive impact throughout the region.
Although not an artist herself, Erin applied creativity in her approach to all communications she coordinated for The Stove. Her strengths lie in digital marketing across various platforms, content creation, event promotion and copy-editing. And—of course—she loved a good spreadsheet. Outside of work, Erin was often found on stage with local theatre company DMTC, reading novels and exploring South West Scotland.
Anna Murray | Associate | 2024-2025
Anna is an emerging mixed media artist who will turn her hand to whichever creative expression feels right, from collage and object-making to songwriting. Her work draws inspiration from the natural world, human connection and relationships, as well as her own life and experiences.
Having grown up in the small rural area of the Glenkens, Anna returned to Dumfries & Galloway after graduating with a degree in Scottish history in 2022, seeking a community-focused creative career.
After laying down new roots and forging connections in her home region, she has been able to explore her own creative practice more regularly and also find part-time work in the local community within Shambellie House, where she is Young Person’s Development Officer.
Anna’s Personal project was a short film titled ‘The Gaze’. It focused on the impact the male gaze has on the daily lives of women and non-binary people.
The film explored the ways in which individuals viewed themselves from a third-person perspective in order to conform to a standard of being that failed to acknowledge them as three-dimensional people—with flaws, unsightly aspects, bodily functions and unpleasant thoughts. The film followed one woman through various moments in her life as she grappled with this concept.
Sonah Chaudhry | Associate | 2024-2025
Sonah, also known as Sonny, is the founder of Sonny Cooper Jewellery, a small jewellery brand. As a jeweller from Scotland, from Pakistan’, their roots are in Dumfries, where they were born, and Moffat, where they grew up. Sonah has been self-teaching the art of jewellery making for four years. Jewellery is their primary creative medium, though they enjoy exploring various creative avenues.
Their work is deeply influenced by heritage and the intersectionality of culture, drawing inspiration from history, as Sonah is also a part-time history student. They love connecting with other creatives and collaborating within the artistic community.
Sonah first discovered the art of jewellery making in Cambodia. During lockdown, they revisited this craft and have since dedicated themself to mastering its finer details.
Sonah’s journey in the jewellery world has involved extensive reading, teaching, and collaborating with fellow artisans. While their academic background in jewellery is minimal, their career is predominantly self-taught, enriched by the guidance and support of those who have accompanied them on this journey.
Sonah’s personal project was an exchange hosted in The Stove Café called ‘Makers Unite’. The concept was as follows: they displayed their handmade jewellery—not for sale, but for exchange. Visitors were invited to offer something they had made or to share their time—no money, and no store-bought items were allowed. It was a trade that encouraged people to reflect on the value of their own creativity, labour and time.
James Gough | Associate | 2024-2025
James is a born and raised Doonhamer* and multimedia visual artist with a particular interest in portraiture and collage. He discovered his passion for creating at the end of 2022 whilst travelling across Australia and New Zealand, and since then, he has felt as though he’s been able to make far more sense of the world around him.
James describes himself as a ‘newbie’ in the creative sector, as his previous experience has mainly been in the fitness industry, working as a personal trainer for five years. James also loves birds, snails, running, and tattoos.
James’s personal project was an exhibition titled ‘Everything Is Rubbish and All Rubbish Is Wonderful’. His debut exhibition was a celebration of the unserious and an opportunity to delve into the lost artist within us all. James drew inspiration from his own life experiences, and his works acted as a light-hearted social commentary. He combined these ideas with cartoons and popular culture to create fun, engaging and humorous images.
Korey Patterson | Associate | 2023-2024
Korey is a self-taught freelance illustrator working in Scotland, with experience in live illustration. Korey enjoys drawing people, creating humorous comics, designing cool characters, and producing artworks for commercial purposes. His work has led to collaborations with organisations such as the Holywood Trust and Old School Thornhill, while also developing a series of Robert the Bruce comics.
Before joining the Creative Spaces Associates programme, Korey had played a hand in many creative events and projects in town, including working with DMC and D-Lux. He was eager to make a difference and exert his influence in Dumfries in any way, shape, or form.
Korey said this about working in the rural creative sector, “Being a part of any of the creative events in town is always fun and makes you realise the potential Dumfries and similar towns and counties have.”
Martha Ferguson | Associate | 2023-2024
Originally studying Art History at university and starting her career in law, Martha returned to Dumfries to pursue a new direction in production design.
She was excited to be involved in collaborative work and to bring a fresh perspective to projects that encouraged young people to explore their creativity and to feel more connected to their community.
Through the Creative Spaces Associates programme, Martha hoped to learn more about her own practice and to become a supportive catalyst for change in the region.
Sahar El-Hady | Associate | 2023-2024
Sahar is an actor, performing artist, and facilitator. She has been based in Bristol, London, Melbourne, and Dumfries since 2021. She is an ensemble member of the Performance Collective Stranraer (PCS), attended the PCS Development Lab #7, and contributed to the research and development for their new show.
Sahar was one of the three Creative Spaces Associates for 2023-2024 and is currently working as a Youth & Engagement Coordinator with Upland and a facilitator at the Guild of Players Youth Theatre. The best way to reach her is on Instagram at @sahartherox.
Image Credit: Andrew Fuller
Alice Griffin | Associate | 2022–2023
Before joining the Creative Spaces Associates programme, Alice had studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and, after graduating in 2018, she worked as a studio technician and then as a print studio co-worker at a Camphill community. She moved to Dumfries in late 2021 and, alongside her work with The Stove Network, she worked part-time as a gallery technician.
During her time with the Associates programme, she aimed to create work that was playful and questioning, using various printmaking and digital techniques to achieve this, and she enjoyed working alongside other people on projects and workshops.
Currently, Alice is a designer based in Dumfries and has had experience working on a wide range of projects, from designing reports to running printmaking workshops and all the fun stuff in between.
Image Credit: Kirstin McEwan Photography
Emma Forsyth | Associate | 2022–2023
After finishing her Theatre Studies degree in Glasgow, Emma spent the following year working in theatres in the city. Through this, she rediscovered her passion for rural creativity and was so excited to return home to Dumfries & Galloway to experiment and learn from everyone at The Stove Network.
Interested in the skill sharing and knowledge that could be spread through creativity, Emma wanted to discover the potential of this in our region.
Her aim for the year was to refine her practice while entertaining and learning in the communities she called home. The best pieces Emma had seen were done by groups that truly resonated with their work, so she was delighted to be working with the Creative Spaces team to make a difference in her own and others’ lives.
Image Credit: Kirstin McEwan Photography
Morgan Love | Associate | 2022–2023
With a massive root system in the local region, being involved with the development and progression of the town has become a big part of Morgan’s future plans. She began her relationship with The Stove Network five years ago by attending Brave New Words and has been a huge supporter of the vision that The Stove Network aims to achieve ever since.
As an Associate for the Creative Spaces programme, Morgan believed there was a great opportunity to get to the heart of what the Network aimed to do, while having a great source of support and an opportunity to expand skills – especially as someone approaching the role without a specific creative practice. Within the role, she hoped to explore her passion for the development of the local and wider region, as well as to engage with young people to explore what could be done to make Dumfries a viable place to have a career in the creative industries.
She also worked in The Stove Cafe, which provided a great opportunity to interact with people who were interested in getting involved with what The Stove Network had to offer through the events held in the building, as well as engaging in conversation with their existing members.
Rachel Shnapp | Associate | 2021–2022
Rachel is a director and filmmaker who creates works across a variety of genres. In her practice, she aims to get as close as possible to subversive or hidden narratives: creating stylish, socially engaged films that tell lesser-known stories.
During her tenure at the Creative Spaces Associates programme, Rachel highlighted the supportive environment that allowed her to grow as an artist. The programme offered her valuable resources, mentorship, and a community of like-minded individuals. This experience not only enhanced her artistic skills but also deepened her understanding of the social impact of art. Rachel’s involvement in Creative Spaces empowered her to create meaningful work that addresses social issues and engages the wider community.
Jenna Macrory | Producer | 2021–2022
With a background in traditional music, Dumfries-born guitarist Jenna Macrory (Jen Mac) was forced to adapt to a completely new music industry due to Covid-19 restrictions. Finding a new focus as an electronic music producer, Jen Mac uses sampling to create gritty textures while drawing attention to social and cultural issues such as environmental and LGBTQ+ concerns. Her unique approach to manipulating sampled materials contributes to a genre-subverting tone. By applying contemporary studio practices to traditional melodies, Jen Mac combines her studio skills with her folk music background. Through contemporary recording methods, she revitalises Scottish folk music for a new generation.
Jodie Barnacle-Best | Associate | 2021–2022
Jodie Barnacle-Best is a creative projects facilitator based in Glasgow’s Southside. Since completing her MA at the Glasgow School of Art in 2021 and the Creative Spaces Programme in 2022, Jodie has pursued a career that combines her two passions: creativity and community. She has experience working in community arts settings in Dumfries and Galloway, Renfrewshire, and Edinburgh. Additionally, she serves on the board of The Stove Network and the advisory board for Craft Scotland. Currently, Jodie works as a Communities Programme Assistant for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, while also engaging in multiple freelance projects that support and amplify artists in the Central Belt.
Leanne Bradwick | Associate | 2021–2022
Leanne is a travelling jewellery artist who crafts narrative jewellery in her self-converted van, which she calls home. She studied jewellery and silversmithing at university from 2014 to 2017, and subsequently worked in Birmingham’s renowned Jewellery Quarter.
Now based in Dumfries and Galloway, Leanne has embarked on her own practice, narrating folklore stories through silver coin pendants. She plans to sell these unique pieces alongside little books to keep the tales alive.
Since completing the Creative Spaces Associates programme, Leanne has joined The Stove Network’s community event production team. Often, the friendly face you’ll meet at events, her role is to ensure everyone has the best time possible. Leanne also works in production for larger events such as the Nithraid River Festival and the Wild Goose Festival, assisting The Stove Network’s Production Manager, Sal Cuddihy, in planning and building these events to bring something different every year.
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