Meet the Team

Karen Jinks - Operations Director

I am an artist and freelance illustrator currently living in Cambridgeshire with my partner and 2 children. I graduated in the early 90’s with a BA Hons in graphic design and illustration from the Norwich School of Art, and started selling direct from my website after the birth of my son in 2000. My work ranges from... [read more]

Anna Stassen - Publications Director and Editor

My name is Anna Stassen. I am editor of UK Handmade Magazine and a jewellery designer / maker living in Surrey, England with my Dutch husband and two gorgeous Siamese cats. I also like to dabble in some ceramics. I left my previous career as a corporate lawyer to devote all my time... [read more]

Kirsten Miller - Membership Director

I live in Leeds, but originally hail from Scotland (born Glasgow, studied at Dundee, LOVE Edinburgh). I live with Greg, and one of these days we'll be owned by a kitten. I'm a self-taught polymer clay artist, and I started Quernus Crafts in 2009. I spend most of my days creating everything from... [read more]

Jo Askey - Designer

I am an illustrator and graphic designer living in Cheshire with my husband, our 10yr old girl and our 4yr old boy. We share our house with an ancient staffordshire bull terrier, and our garden with two lop eared rabbits. After having initially studied fine art, some years later after the birth of my son, I returned... [read more]

Susan Morrow - PR

I live in a village called Stocksfield in Northumberland and love it. I still work full time in software development, whilst trying to establish myself as a jewellery artist. But one of these days, I will be free! And when I am, I will be making crazy jewellery that’s a little bit
different... [read more] 

Gill Smith - Events

Hello, I'm Gilly, I am a self-taught designer maker with a passion for floral jewellery,
which led me to set up Gillyflower Jewellery in 2006. I adore bold colours and shapes, and
draw inspiration from my love of nature. Each piece of jewellery features one of my
handmade flowers, created by weaving... [read more] 

Bebe Bradley - Events

I am a Scottish designer/maker living next to the sea in Dorset with my husband and two boys. I have a degree in Graphic Design and love paper, print, cloth, colour, buttons and beads. I use them to create original textile and jewellery pieces...and other stuff when I feel like it! I'm proud of the handmade ethos... [read more] 

Larissa Joice - Tutorials

My name is Larissa, I’m 37 and mother to almost 4 year old Brynn and Tobias who was born in Janurary 2010. I studied Illustration & Graphic Design at Norwich school of Art & Design in the 90’s and left college at 22 planning to be a famous illustrator. However I found the constant traipsing around publishers not to my liking... [read more]

Lorrie Whittington - Network Co-ordinator

My name is Lorrie; artist, free spirit, old soul, young heart, mother to daughter Orla and wife to Luke.I trained in the 1980's in Art & Design, worked freelance on and off for years, and also undertook some business qualifications a few years ago.  I moved down to the coast from London in the mid 1990s, and I now live with my family... [read more] 

Anna Hull - Features Writer

Disguised as The Bunny Maker, Anna Hull, is a mysterious person.  Buried away in a little studio in leafy West Sussex she gives life to bunnies, making them from carefully chosen socks.  Whilst the bunnies are waiting to be sold they help her in the garden, looking after the carrots... [read more]

Emma Rafter - Deputy Editor and Features Writer

I seem to be involved in a project that involves me covering the interior of my house with books, particularly cookery and craft books. Praise be, therefore, for UK Handmade, who have given meaning to this paper nesting by encouraging me to share my thoughts with those that are more sensible with their book purchasing... [read more]

Nicola Mesham - Features Writer

My name is Nicola and I am a self confessed vintage fabric addict! I love making bags, accessories and homewares from vintage and recycled material and sell them via my website. I started Pouch out of a desire to create unique items which stood out from from mass-produced high street offerings... [read more]

Teresa Dickson - Features Writer

Inspired by vintage, I design jewellery, hairpins and boudoir bags. I predominately work with freshwater pearls and semi precious stones in muted soft colours for jewellery. For 2010 I will be introducing Silver Art Clay into my designs. In contrast – vintage boudoir bags are often bright, bold colours depicting florals... [read more]

Becky Pearce - Features writer

I am a stumble crafter with a love of all things handmade. After dabbling in everything from mosaic to upholstery I happened upon jewellery making; starting with beading, and then metalwork. Who knows where it will end but I've been obsessed with making jewellery for a while now. I'm currently on a career break... [read more] 

Adele Sellears - Features Writer

Hello my name is Adele. I have a small business called Adele Design. I originally trained as a Fashion Designer and later switched to Graphics. I returned to College as a mature student to study Fashion and Textiles and use the work I produced as inspiration for my new products . For as long as I can remember... [read more]