About
Surrey Hills Arts
Surrey Hills Arts is a partnership between Surrey Arts (Surrey County Council) and the Surrey Hills National Landscape. Our mission is to connect people to the Surrey Hills through an imaginative arts programme, meaningful engagement and developing our creative community.
Our Values
Quality – of arts delivery, meaningful engagement and impactful outcomes.
Innovation – nurturing the experimentation, growth and development of artists.
Environmental – in our approach to our projects and the places where we work.
Inclusive – in collaborating with artists, partners and communities.
Our Aims are to:
- Deliver inclusive contemporary arts projects that proactively build diverse audiences that connect to the history, geology & characteristics of the landscape.
- Work in partnership with internal and external services to develop arts-led opportunities that achieve positive health, education and social outcomes.
- Advocate positive action and a greater understanding to environmental challenges through direct engagement in community settings.
- Support and develop local artists of all art forms in creating work relating to the landscape
Partnership Board
Surrey Hills Arts works closely with a Partnership Board who act in an advisory role to guide the programme and ensure we maintain our strong vision and fulfil our objectives.
Jo Bradshaw
Chair
Jo Bradshaw has a background in both the arts and landscape settings. It includes leading programmes at the Garden Museum, Kew Gardens and for the National Trust where she is currently the Senior National Consultant – Partnerships and Programmes. She is a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow and uses her skills to lead, develop and strengthen the partnership board.
Rob Fairbanks
As the Director for the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Rob Fairbanks is responsible for leading on all aspects of policy and strategy to conserve and enhance the Surrey Hills as one of the nation’s designated landscapes. He coordinates the activity of the Surrey Hills family of organisations and manages a small team based at the National Trust’s Surrey Hills Estate Office near Box Hill. Previously Rob worked as a Senior Countryside Officer in the Countryside Commission where his responsibilities included National Trails, Land Management Initiatives, Community Forests and initiating Health Walks.
Andrea Gregson
Andrea is Subject Leader for MA Fine Art at UCA Farnham where, since 2004, she has worked across all years and disciplines on the BA and MA Fine Art programmes with research specialisms in sculpture, installation, curation and professional practice.
Andrea’s contribution to the understanding and practice of sculpture spans over twenty years and includes bronze casting, drawing, site specific art and curation. ‘Seeing Through the Ground’ is her recent residency, solo show and commission at Grizedale Forest.
Penny Harris
Penny Harris is a founder partner of Parker Harris, one of the leading visual arts consultancies in the UK. Penny has been responsible for creating and managing contemporary art projects for over 30 years, in all kinds of disciplines. In 2019 she was responsible for the delivery and promotion of two of Forestry England’s Centenary Art Projects. With an inherent love of the Surrey Hills, Penny is passionate about encouraging audiences into the landscape through the medium of sculpture in the landscape. She lives and works in Surrey.
Vikki Leedham
Manager and Co-curator of The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden in Ockley Surrey, Vikki Leedham has a passion for sculpture, materials, and the magical synergy created through the placement of art within nature. Living in Farnham – England’s Craft Town – Vikki consults on public art, and sits on judging panels for arts awards supporting emerging talent, as well as speaking at higher education venues for both the arts and garden design.
Caroline Scarles
Caroline is Professor of Technology in Society in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey. Her expertise lies in: the visual and multi-sensuality within society, social and cultural sustainability and how these are brought together through technology for social good. Caroline’s recent research focuses on: enriching visitor experiences of arts and heritage through augmented reality and immersive experiences providing stimulating environments for healthy ageing. Caroline is lead editor for Tourist Studies, an advisor for the Royal Geographical Society, and a Director for Visit Surrey.
Sarah Lee
As the Service Manager for Surrey County Council Arts Service, Sarah is responsible for leading the Arts provision across Surrey including the strategy for the Surrey Music Hub, Cultural Education Partnership (Culture Box Surrey) and is part of the cultural services leadership team for Surrey County Council.
Having grown up in Devon, Sarah loves nature and is passionate about the arts and its ability to enhance the natural landscape.
Ali Clarke
Project manager and artist, Ali Clarke has worked in Surrey since 2000 initiating and delivering projects specific to the landscape. Often responding to the history or geology of a site, Ali works closely with artists and landowners in developing projects, residencies and events across the art forms. Ali has also been Chair for DAISY – Disability Arts in Surrey and a trustee for Creative Response.
Catherine McCusker
The arts, the outdoors and love of natural play were the staples in Catherine’s upbringing and consequently professional life. Starting out as an actor, Catherine has used her ability to create ‘an experience’ in lots of work arenas, but for the last decade for the National Trust in the Surrey Hills. She now finds herself as the Visitor Operations and Experiences Manager at the Leith Hill Place Estate, tasked with bringing new life to the house using wider communities and the arts as the conduits for this. She is also a trustee of the Surrey Hills Society.
Board member positions
Keep an eye on our website and sign up to our newsletter to hear of opportunities to become a board member.
Surrey Hills
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Great Landscape Value.
Surrey Hills is a 422 km² Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which covers one quarter of the county of Surrey, England. The AONB was designated in 1958 and adjoins the Kent Downs AONB to the east and the South Downs National Park in the south west.
