James Barnor

Pioneering photographer

James Barnor was born in Accra, Ghana in 1929. He began work as a photographer in Accra?s Jamestown district in 1947 where he set up the Ever Young studio, taking photographs of the local community. He also worked as a photojournalist for the Daily Graphic and Drum magazine, which led him to London in the 1960s. Beyond his studio photography and press commissions, Barnor also has an extensive archive of street reportage. After spending the 1960s in Britain, Barnor returned to Ghana at the end of the decade where he helped open the country?s first colour-processing laboratory. In 1993, after 24 years in Ghana, Barnor returned to London where he continues to live today. His varied body of photographic work documents the shift towards modern living as experienced by black people in both Africa and Britain.

David Emmanuel Noel

Official website of David Emmanuel Noel FRSA

Artist /designer with a background in visual & performing arts, architecture and building design with interest in the therapeutic benefits of art in public spaces. He's here to share and discuss all things creative and artistic! David has collaborated on cross disciplinary projects, taught art and worked closely with bodies such as New York’s Groundswell Community Mural Project, the UK Department of Health and NSPCC with an aim to promote the social and therapeutic benefits of art in public spaces.

Leonard Lesic

https://www.red-sparrow.net/

My messages are pointing out on people consciousness, to be free and more tolerant, to have good spirit. Beauty is in simplicity, not in complications.

Zabou

http://zabou.me/

Originally from France, Zabou moved to and started painting London in 2012. She has since then been on a self-appointed mission to paint as much of the capital as possible. With a seemingly endless supply of fresh designs to work with, Zabou is very much one of London?s most proactive artists.

Her works are striking, humourous and thought-provoking, set to elicit a range of emotions upon viewing, depending on the message each mural conveys. Working with a combination of stencil and freehand techniques, she likes to question society and to poke fun at conformists. First and foremost however is the fact that each of Zabou?s subjects are drawn from her personal experiences, taking what she sees around her and projecting it to a new audience.

Beyond this, and what is fundamental about Zabou?s work, is her innate ability to integrate the location and surroundings with her artworks: not just wishing to paint on the street, she makes them part of the street. The pieces harmonise with their surroundings and in turn create something which allows its audience to engage with the work as an installation. This is the very essence of street art and something few artists master, but certainly one of Zabou?s greatest talents.

Her witty and thoughtful designs have given her a much sought after reputation, leading her to travel the world to spread her artistic message of love, fun or rebellion. She has painted in England, France, Portugal, Cyprus, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Dubai and the U.S.A. Beyond her travels, Zabou?s accomplishments include speaking events such as the prestigious TedX conferences on the subject ?Everything you know is wrong? in Limassol, Cyprus (2014), seeing her artwork published in books including: Planet Banksy by Ket (2014) and The World?s 50 Best Women Street Artists by Graffito Books (2017), as well as having her work exhibited at the famous Saatchi Gallery in London as part of the ?XX: A Moment In Time? show curated by Olly Walker (2016).

Zabou is an artist whose techniques and boldness are constantly evolving. She is certainly not set to be stopping on her journey anytime soon, fortunately she has to much left to say to the world.

Teddy Baden

http://www.teddybaden.co.uk/

Teddy Baden is not simply driven by a fascination with dogs. Literally viewing them as ‘Hairy Aliens, living amongst us’… his artwork is a celebration of an incredible relationship, of human society’s historic and endearing subsumption of another species. 'Fly Bye' 2015 Near Latimer Road, West London pictured.

Yousif Naser

Yousif Naser biography & work

One constant theme evident in Yousif's numerous, paintings and drawings is the suffering of Iraq and the pain of exile. His largest project Black Rain is an ongoing undertaking, which began as a painting project during the build up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It quickly acquired momentum and generated much local media coverage. Gradually it evolved into a a series of paintings comprising of multi-and-single media works, ranging from gigantic canvases to small drawings, collages and paintings, all inspired by the horrors of war.

Carrie Reichardt

Specialising in craft and art as protest

Carrie is a self-titled craftivist who works from a mosaic-covered HQ, The Treatment Rooms in west London. Her work blurs the boundaries between craft and activism, using the craft techniques of mural, mosaic and screen-printing to create intricate, highly politicised works of art.

SOC!ETY DANCE ACADEMY

https://www.societydanceacademy.com/

West London based Society Dance Academy was created by a enthusiastic Individual who is determent to create a society passionate about all aspects of Street & Hip Hop dance by providing educational dance training and opportunities for young people to express their talents.

Erduan Xhaferi and a team of creative Mentors and Choreographers aim is to provide creative platforms for young people to express their talents and give young people from all walks of life an opportunity to be inspired.

​We believe dance can be used as a tool to positively change people’s minds and opinions about each other and to become united within the dance culture. Dance itself is a universal language that everybody understands and can relate too, it removes all barriers between individuals and what they want to communicate, It illustrates the development of human culture. Society Dance Academy firmly believes that if we focus on developing the young generation, creatively and socially, it will have an impact on them and others, for a better future.

Dance creates experiences for young people that will allow them to participate in a range of dance forms and styles. As well as providing them with the experience of performing, confidence and opportunities for leadership roles.

Our vision for our students is to provide them with the highest training and give them opportunities to reach their goals by also inspiring them to carry this movement forward into the future, allowing them to become the next generation of Mentors/dancers, choreographers and teachers that continue to create society with dance. We strive to bring out their creativity and teach them to express themselves through movement, but most importantly we want all students to enjoy this experience.

​Society Dance Academy have the experience and knowledge to stand behind their beliefs, with a history of over 10 years of performing, teaching, theatre productions and TV entertainment.

Winning a high number of awards in dance competitions in the UK and Europe, they have performed at a number of top venues such as all o2 Arena's venues, Olympic Park and Saddler’s Wells. Society Dance has also collaborated with top international artists, TV and brands such as E4, Virgin, Adidas, Dunkin Donuts, T-Pain, Jay Sean, Lil Wayne and many more international artists on a number of music videos and projects.

“By analysing the past, we understand the present and can inspire and build for the Future”.

Society Dance Academy
Every Saturday 13:00-15:00PM
6-11 Yrs 13:00-14:00PM
12-17 Yrs 14:00-15:00PM

Benjamin Finch

I believe the secret to taking great photographs is opportunity.
The braver and more courageous you are, the greater the rewards will surely be. I am heavily inspired by my travels and adventures around the world but also discovering things a lot closer to home. I love the diversity that each photograph can bring and I embrace the excitement that a new challenge can present.

Lily Mixe

? Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ? Albe…

Lily Mixe is a graphic artist originating from Paris who has now based herself within the creative hot bed of London, UK.
Lily?s artwork moves from paper and canvas, found objects and onto the surface of walls in the street.

At the centre of the work is Nature and in particular the Ocean. The subjects are otherworldly, aliens from our own planet. Specimens that offer reminders of how beautiful and complex life on Earth can be and how much of our own planet is unknown and undiscovered.

Inspired by numerous diving expeditions, and hundreds of notebooks and studies of animals and plants, the work is both familiar and unusual. Lily states, ?The work examines life under the surface, the incredible unseen, silent beings we take for granted. I want to give a visual voice to the natural world. I want to celebrate nature in the same way we value precious stones and rare artefacts, I place nature as the highest currency on planet earth?

Lily?s work mutates. It starts as a sketch, it builds and becomes a form, filling and layering textures and patterns that give it a life of its own. The art lives in books, on paper, found objects and ultimately become fully realised when added to the landscape; pasted to bricks and cement, continuing to change over time, changing with the weather, with plants, pollution, graffiti.

The work really starts to take shape once lily walks away. Making the art is only half of the process, placement of the piece is key to its completion, the transient and brutal spirit of nature frames the work, pasting drawings to a wall is an offering, and a sacrifice, an experiment, to see the drawings grow, change, and often be destroyed by the environment and time.