Artist, educator, curator, and rebel. A portfolio worker - someone that has lots of different artistic things going on. Creative variety keeps life interesting. Elaine created Birdland on a roundabout in Chelmsford, it is a birdhouse city - commissioned by a housing developer - and created in collaboration with local kids. More on the housing crisis and the return of peregrines to Chelmsford. Bronze plaques with collective nouns for birds. Training robins to land on your hand. Elaine’s creative career started at BBC Essex, as a receptionist, then a news Radio Production Assistant. Blue Peter’s Katy Hill worked there too! Elaine also got to run the first BBC Essex website. She tried three times to become an artist in her life. Finally someone at BBC Essex suggested she should try to become an artist. It started at Chelmsford College with a foundation degree, part time, which she completed in one year (instead of two). And then a five year art degree at Central St.Martins. While looking after two young children at the same time. Legendary commitment to art! BBC Essex kindly allowed her to work the degree around her job. Then she did a Masters degree. What is the difference between Art and Fine Art? Creating the alter ego Aileen Liberty and becoming a professional artist. Making fake For Sale boards for a non-existent real estate agent. Funding art - paint and canvas is expensive. How to get into art when you aren’t rich. Painting sales science - dark green and gold paintings are big sellers. Why did blue and purple blow people’s minds back in the day (back back back in the day). Creating a new evaluation system for Chelmsford Museum exhibitions. Sand timers for appreciating art. Can digital art be counted as ‘art’? Yes. Using art as a catalyst for discussion about the environment. Painting road art for Tour De France in Essex. Reclaim the Seax! Elaine got EXPELLED from school at 15 - but made up for it with adult education. Artists should never work for free - but value exchange in volunteering is ok. Elaine is a fine art gangsta.

Elaine Tribley on Instagram

Elaine's website

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Grub is a young graffiti artist from Southend. At just 11 years old he’s taken part in Southend City Jam and painted around the country. He is mostly interested in classic graffiti styles, rather than street art. Sangita looks through Grub’s black book (graf sketch book) and can’t believe he can draw so well. Grub is from a creative family, and his Dad is an excellent artist who has taught him to draw. One of Grub’s teachers, Miss James, spotted his artistic talent when he was 8 and motivated him. Grub now has mentors for painting - Ekto, Ster, and Rask. He met them at Southend City Jam 2023 and showed them his sketchbook, Rask grabbed the organisers to show them the work, and he was invited to paint there in 2024. City Jam has massively brightened up Southend with the colourful murals and pieces throughout the city. Big up Scotty Brave for making Essex more colourful with his murals. Grub has painted Leake Street in London, which is an iconic location - he even got recognised from his documentary on YouTube. Ben Mills from Hellfire Film made the mini documentary, and it has made Grub a little bit famous. Essex has a rich history of graffiti - the 2-mile long Lakeside Seawall and Rochford Mill are classic spots. Grub loves the illegal side of graffiti and seeing where people manage to get art up, enjoying the placement and cheekiness. He loves placements that are like a crime that doesn’t really affect anyone - like The Lurkers in caves, and tunnels under London. Talking about King Robbo vs Banksy. If you’re painting a legal wall like Warrior Square in Southend, you’ll need to go over the top of someone else’s work. Painting is expensive, so it would be great for Grub to get sponsored - come on Montana! Choosing a name to tag. When you start out you are ‘toy’. Grub’s previous name was ‘Cob123’, but one day he painted Grub and loved the flow of the letters. Doodle-grid is the way that artists map out their works on big walls to get the proportions and layout correct. Grub has been painting over tube maps and selling them on Instagram. Painting on Rod Stewart’s trainset. If you want to start graffiti - just go for it, don’t be afraid of drawing letters. Grub practiced can control in his garden on some old plywood. Limiting screen time and the ensuing boredom can stoke creativity. Hard work, repetition and practice lead to improvement. Grub is unique at graffiti jam events for being so young. Grub is in a few crews - UPC and CBM.

Grub on Instagram

Grub documentary

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Radio presenter and audio documentary maker. Kaelyn created a documentary about the Chelmsford skateboarding scene, around Central Park between 2020 and 2023. Kaelyn is a skateboarder, so the subject was personal for her. Skate scenes are always in flux, and this was a busy time for the scene in Essex. Why do creative people gravitate to skateboarding? Or does skateboarding make people creative? Being a female skater is hard because you don’t feel fully included. Especially when a WhatsApp group was created just for the male skaters at the skatepark. Kaelyn tackles this in her audio documentary. Is it fun to be mean as a 15 year old? Kaelyn is studying radio and podcasting at Point Blank Music School in Hoxton, London. She captured the atmosphere and sounds of the skatepark with field recordings to bring the documentary to life. The field recordings bring the time and place to life, let you imagine you are there. Learning skating language and the terms - it’s an international language! How the audio documentary let Kaelyn go deep into her thoughts and feelings from the time at the skatepark, allowed her to address issues, and get closure on them. Documentaries about the human microcosms of society, like the skatepark, can be fascinating for outsiders - all of this microdrama and dynamics are happening everywhere in all groups of people. Sangita is intimidated by skaters. Kaelyn has an eclectic music radio show on CCR Radio (Chelmsford Community Radio). Why is 90s music so hot right now? Essex music is amazing. Doing work experience at a radio station, and leading to a future career. Big up Paul Dupree. The power of a great audio book or documentary, like watching a film in your mind. Tips for interviewing people. The creative podarpillar. Cheese dreams. Are radios more important than toasters? Edging with the toaster.

Kaelyn's Evening Interlude

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK