Re:Create Wandsworth, which follows on from Re:Create 2023, is an innovative business support programme designed specifically to empower creative, self-employed individuals and small enterprises in the London borough of Wandsworth.
We are running the programme in collaboration with Wandsworth Borough Council, with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We hope to see the diversity of the borough’s communities represented in this year’s cohort.
Re:Create Wandsworth aims to empower its participants to create more resilient and financially-sustainable businesses and provides them with the necessary support to thrive. The continuing collaboration between Creative United and Wandsworth Borough Council shows a long-term commitment to empowering local creative talent, fostering inclusivity, and facilitating the growth of a dynamic creative community.
Wandsworth has been announced London Borough of Culture for 2025 and Re:Create is part of this ongoing work to grow the local artistic and creative business sector and foster the next generation of artists and makers.
Find out about getting involved in Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture 2025 here.
Click on the images below to meet our Re:Create Wandsworth cohort and learn more about their work.
Yasmine Dankwah
Spoken Word Poet
Yasmine Dankwah
Spoken Word Poet
Yasmine Dankwah is a British Ghanaian spoken word poet, born raised and based in South West London. Through nostalgia, lyricism and play, her work explores how resistance, predominantly through identity based discrimination, can be used as a springboard for joy for communities on the margins. Yasmine was a Roundhouse Poetry Slam finalist and has been featured on BBC Radio London thrice.
@yasminedankwah
Tracey English-Polch
Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer
Tracey English-Polch
Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer
Tracey creates bright whimsical images created from hand coloured paper collages. Her designs can be found on a wide range of licensed items from children’s clothing, homewares and stationary to a range of her own home grown products.
Instagram - traceyenglish
Facebook - traceyenglishillustration
Shiza Naveed
Artist and Researcher
Shiza Naveed
Artist and Researcher
Shiza Naveed is a freelance artist and researcher focused on community engaged public murals that tell stories of the places they exist within, as fully accessible site-specific archives. In her work, Shiza centres collaboration, untold histories, and building otherwise worlds.
@shizaaaaaa
Rina Kang
Artist
Rina Kang
Artist
Rina Kang creates intuitive abstract artwork to facilitate the power of healing through visual expression. Her client bases are those who would like to discover more about their true nature, their core, their essence. For Rina, art is meditative and therapeutic, and she wants more people to discover the healing power of art and to connect with their inner, most authentic self.
@rina.kang.art
Ozoemena Umunna
Upholsterer
Ozoemena Umunna
Upholsterer
Ozoemena Umunna reupholsters preloved items of upholstery, mainly seated furniture such as chairs, armchairs and sofas, restoring and reviving old items into new pieces. The renovation and repairs can involve adding new springs, webbing, making and sewing new seat pads and cushions, cleaning the wood, fixing joints and sourcing new fabrics giving the piece a new lease of life. Ozoemena transforms tired, old, worn-out furniture into comfortable, aesthetically pleasing pieces that support a sustainable lifestyle.
Orode Faka
R.O.C.K.S
Orode Faka
R.O.C.K.S
R.O.C.K.S is an acronym for Responsibility, Ownership, Community, Knowledge, and Sustainability. They work collaboratively with communities to tell their unique narratives and engage in dialogues with local partners towards a shared understanding of their needs. They promote equity and community centred empowerment, leadership and development – R.O.C.K.S!
@RoehamptonRocks
Neal Cooper
Coach and Mentor
Neal Cooper
Coach and Mentor
Neal Cooper offers individual and group coaching to empower others of all ages and backgrounds through the uniqueness of the human voice. Authenticity, presence and self-expression are available to each one of us. Through workshops, one-to-one coaching and masterclasses, Neal aims to free voices and unlock potential so that every voice has the opportunity to make a difference.
@coopernealartiste
Nathalie Webb
Artist
Nathalie Webb
Artist
Nathalie Webb is an artist and sole trader. She works in watercolours, acrylics, oils and collage and has exhibited her work locally at the Clapham Omnibus Café as well as in France. Nathalie has sold her artworks mainly through word of mouth and has a profile on Wandsworth Arts page.
@webb_nathalie
Nacheal Catnott
Yam Collective
Nacheal Catnott
Yam Collective
Yam Collective is an arts organisation dedicated to carving out space, supporting and championing Black and marginalised creatives in the arts. Committed to enhancing their visibility by curating immersive and interactive events that showcase the rich tapestry of creativity within our communities. Their events aim to educate and evoke social change, which in turn enriches our communities as well as diversifies the status quo of the Western ‘white cube’ art world. Yam Collective is passionate about spotlighting talent and stories of Black and marginalised artists, creators, and visionaries as well as providing support and giving these artists the space to be nurtured and showcase their creativity.
@yamcollective_
Monica Godwin
Fine Artist
Monica Godwin
Fine Artist
Monica Godwin is a fine artist trained in painting, printmaking and sculpture. With an MA from the Slade School of Art, UCL, and having trained as a specialist decorator and interior designer, she uses her skills as a specialist colour consultant for interior spaces. Monica also successfully produces commissioned work for her loyal following.
@godwinmonica
Maxine Binger
Koobool
Maxine Binger
Koobool
Koobool is on a mission to transform children's reading experiences. 1 in 4 children in England cannot read well by 11, rising to 40% among low-income families, and speech and language difficulties, including dyslexia, account for some of these gaps. As a relatively new player in the educational space, Koobool’s flagship products are children's activity books designed for early learning. They are crafted with activities that
come to life through creativity and augmented reality, providing an engaging and interactive experience. Complimented with creative workshops for children and their families, Koobool's mission to bring back creativity is destined to make change.
Mark Nader
WIP Space
Mark Nader
WIP Space
WIP Space is an LQBTQ+ led, artist run studio that was founded by artist Mark Nader in response to a lack of long-term studio provision for creative practitioners in London. It has been cofounded and developed by those in Art, Finance, Horticulture and Publishing. Officially open in 2024 Wentworth House is a mixed-use site that houses 17 studio spaces, a project space with two attached artist residencies, gallery space, communal rooms and a bookable community meeting room. They aim to create a community studio space with a diverse programme of events and exhibitions, where locals enable locals.
@wipspace
Lucy Williams
Classical Singer, Musician, Teacher
Lucy Williams
Classical Singer, Musician, Teacher
Lucy Williams is a classical singer and teacher working in the borough of Wandsworth as a self-employed musician. She teaches singing and piano and since starting up again after the pandemic, Lucy has been singing solo and choral music in London and the South of England. She teaches privately, in schools and music schools and wants to help people enjoy music and music making.
Lucinda Denning
Painter
Lucinda Denning
Painter
Lucinda Denning is primarily a painter working in oil on canvas, gouache and acrylic on paper and pen and ink on paper as well. She also makes mosaics, paints furniture and makes little figures from clay. She is deeply ensconced in her local community and has been involved in community art projects, such as mosaics for the local rec and stained-glass effect windows for the Furzedown project. Lucinda also teaches art classes in the community for adults and children.
@lucindadenningpaintings
Lara Brook
Hyper Cursor
Lara Brook
Hyper Cursor
Hyper Cursor specialises in the design and development of custom websites, data visualisations, and other digital solutions. Their goal is to redefine the digital landscape by offering tailored, cutting edge solutions that empower medium sized enterprises and start ups to thrive in the digital age, redefining industry standards. Their unique approach combines collaborative innovation, expert craftsmanship and unwavering creativity to deliver transformative results for our clients. Hyper Cursor have a range of different clients and also work in collaboration with other agencies.
Krystal Wong
Illustrator and Graphic Designer
Krystal Wong
Illustrator and Graphic Designer
Krystal Wong is an Illustrator, Graphic designer and Artist based in Balham. Krystal captures the vibrant spirit of South London and beyond through colour popping illustrations that celebrate community and architecture. Krystal strives to bring joyful memories and a sweet dose of nostalgia to life, connecting people to the places they love and the stories that shape them. Limited Edition giclee prints are available to purchase on her website.
@inkywinky_art
Jess Gell
Artist, Documentary Director, Editor
Jess Gell
Artist, Documentary Director, Editor
Jess Gell is a freelance artist, documentary director and editor based in Tooting. Her films have ranged from the hidden lives of artists to unearthing personal history, and she has worked with clients including arts organisations, cultural heritage groups and mental health charities.
@gell_docs
Georgia Spencer
Fine Artist
Georgia Spencer
Fine Artist
Georgina Spencer is a practicing fine artist with a particular interest in craft as a way to explore tradition, and as a method to process complex emotions, such as grief. Her practice uses a range of media in order to understand her own feelings and to help create those conversations with others.
@georgiaspencerart
Gail Dickerson
Artist
Gail Dickerson
Artist
Gail Dickerson is an artist who makes paintings, sculptures and experimental films inspired by geology and the everyday. She works with earth pigments made from materials collected from the layers of geological strata below London, and also leads walks and holds workshops and talks in various venues.
@gaildickerson
Emily Stott
Personal Stylist
Emily Stott
Personal Stylist
Our sartorial choices are important; clothes should be fun but they should also be a positive reflection of who we are. Emily Stott believes that a stylish and accessible wardrobe, full of go-to outfits that inspire confidence, is achievable for everyone and it doesn't necessarily require a huge budget. By identifying what works best for your shape, colouring and lifestyle and streamlining the contents of your wardrobe into a workable collection, having nothing to wear will be a thing of the past.
Instagram - emily_styled
Facebook - EmilyShopped
Elaine Giles
Make a Mark
Elaine Giles
Make a Mark
Make a Mark was set up to share the benefits of the creative process with both the local community and further afield. Its creator is the award winning artist Elaine Giles who works primarily with eco-friendly water-based media, Her work has been featured in Portraits for NHS Heroes, published by Bloomsbury and at the Mall Gallery in Figurative Art.
@elainergiles
Eduard Sacrest
Visual Artist, Muralist and Arts Educator
Eduard Sacrest
Visual Artist, Muralist and Arts Educator
Eduard Sacrest is a visual artist, muralist and arts educator. He works painting murals all around, working for festivals and private customers and is also very engaged with community based projects. He has led participative projects using street art and muralism as a tool of change and communication since the beginning of his career.
@ricebarcelona
Diana Furlong
Calligrapher, Lettering Artist, Signwriter
Diana Furlong
Calligrapher, Lettering Artist, Signwriter
Using the skills of hand lettering, display and good lighting to promote growth in the local retail economy. Diana's work is driven by the desire to communicate visually to help small independent shops and cafes thrive against competing online sales, and the clout of the global mega brand.
@furlongdiana
Caroline Barker
CB Designs
Caroline Barker
CB Designs
CB Designs creates hand drawn and watercolour painted colourful characters which feature on original works, prints and greetings cards. CB Designs was founded by Caroline whose creative passion was placed on hold for 22 years. She is now doing something she loves and hopes her joy is reflected in the pictures she creates.
@c._b._ designs
Ari Ruban
Ariike Studio
Ari Ruban
Ariike Studio
Ariike Studio is a sustainable fashion brand. The ethos of the business is extending the lifespan of used materials and reducing damage to our environment by designing luxury pieces of clothing and accessories with used denim, deadstock fabrics and remnant materials. Ariike Studio's designs are made to order.
@ariikestudio
Amy Matthews Page
Amy Matthews Page Design
Amy Matthews Page
Amy Matthews Page Design
Amy Matthews Page Design was established with the aim to create a collection of environmentally conscious, handcrafted homeware pieces, incorporating circular design and products made for longevity. Amy's practice encompasses the belief that the architectural way of thinking should not be limited to buildings alone. She intends to produce products that make a good contribution to the space around us. Pushing the boundaries of design, exploring materiality, form and function through experimentation and uses her freedom to learn new skills, utilising hand making processes and finishes using small scale artisan craftsmanship.
@amymatthewspagedesign
Amy Adams
Nature. Connected. Creative.
Amy Adams
Nature. Connected. Creative.
We create nature walk experiences which nurture, bring relief and reconnect people with themselves and their surroundings. We are committed to reconnecting people with nature's harmonies, inviting them to immerse themselves in forest bathing, awakening their senses through the art of photography, where your eyes become the lens, or use your phone camera and nurturing your spirit with the soothing balm of healing sound.
@nature.connected.creative
Alexandra Dalton
Leading Ideas
Alexandra Dalton
Leading Ideas
Leading Ideas is a creative consultancy that helps businesses and individuals generate great ideas and then bring those ideas to life. We help businesses in media generate, develop and sell ideas for programmes, online content and business growth. Working mainly across the TV industries, we develop and lead training programmes, facilitating creative sessions and coaching creative professionals.
LinkedIn - leadingideasalex
Facebook - alexleadingideas
What will Re:Create Wandsworth participants benefit from?
As well as having the opportunity to join the growing network of creatives within their community, the 50 Re:Create Wandsworth participants will have exclusive access to 4 hours of free, tailored one-to-one business mentoring from experienced professionals within creative industries – an increase from last year’s 3-hour offer!
Additionally, all creatives and creative businesses in the borough can access:
- A 4-module course Marketing and E-Commerce, Funding, Business Resilience, and Team Building which includes on-demand training videos and downloadable resources.
- Networking events to allow participants to meet other like-minded creatives and small-business owners within their communities.
This comprehensive approach ensures tailored guidance on crucial aspects of business development, including marketing strategies, financial planning, and leadership.
What did last year’s cohort say about the programme?
Wilbur Moore – Owner/Director, Floating Focus Facilities, Ltd.
Confidence is the main thing that has changed for me. Firstly, that has come from learning about the business plan, marketing, structure, and planning. Having an understanding of how all the different aspects of business work have enabled me to come up with a plan and be proactive not just reactive. And secondly that I have a skill that is worth something.”
Hannah Simpson – Owner, Hannah Simpson Studio
I found the networking breakfast a really good way to meet more people who are creative. I
have already shared the name I met of someone there to another business asking for a
specific commission.”