The Community.

SCULPTOR & CARPENTER

Ben is an award-winning artist who enjoys painting watercolours, sculpture, carpentry & design. Ben has recently been building custom furniture for clients and for us here at House of Toad. During lockdown, Ben and his DJCAD art school co-graduate friend Craig, designed and built a timber-frame house where Joanna and Ben now live, in Maryhill in Glasgow.

PUPPETEER & THEATRE MAKER
@potatoroom

With many years experience as a theatre practitioner Gavin Glover specialises in puppetry, live feed micro cinema, film making and Art installations.

ARTIST

My work has to be visceral. I have to want to touch it. By touching I feel, externally and internally.  Only then do I know what it needs.  I surround myself with materials, images and words and create out of those ingredients. The meaning behind my work emerges in retrospect, a need to pare down, clear the mind and seek tranquility.  

THEATRE MAKER
@hooky_productions

Rosa is a Glasgow-based theatre maker and facilitator. She explores the relationship between human and non-human through surrealism, clowning and puppetry. Photo: @michaeloreillyphotographer

ARTIST
@ktsmail

Katy Smail was born in Scotland and graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a First-Class Honours degree in Illustration. She then moved to NYC for ten years where she worked as an illustrator, painter, and art director.

She is currently based in Glasgow. New motherhood and a return to Scotland expanded her fine art practice, and she now works primarily as a painter. Inspired by the wildflowers of her homeland she has developed the colourful expressive style for which she is known.

PUPPETEER & MAKER
@janzalud_carves

A woodcarver and maker of figurative work involving puppetry and automata. Using both traditional and innovative techniques for a variety of puppetry styles producing dynamic figures, which combine beauty, strength of character as well as good movement and durability. The use of wood is extensive though not exclusive and other materials are also utilized. I love the versatility of carving for both the decorative features as well as the necessary functional shapes.

ARTIST
@lesley_barnes

Lesley is an award winning illustrator and animator based in Glasgow. Her distinctive, bright and joyful work spans the worlds of fashion, music, children’s literature, film and product design.

ARTIST
@ross_mcauley

Ross is a Canadian artist and maker based in Glasgow. He works alongside artist Lesley Barnes to create their wonderfully bright wooden sculptures.

BOAT BUILDER
@archipelagofolk

Ben Wilde is a boat builder and teacher based on the Isle of Mull. He runs Archipelago Folkschool, a social enterprise that connects people with craft. They run courses in boatbulding and woodwork for people of all ages and skill levels.