Members: Researchers

Here you will find a wide range of educational institutions and training organisations delivering arts, health and well-being programmes and research.

Kathleen Wright

Kathleen Wright

As a Creative Health evaluator, I specialize in community collaboration to assess holistic wellbeing initiatives. Recently, I evaluated Our National Health Stories for the NHS and have prior experience in evaluating a nature-based forest bathing programme for The Forest Bathing Institute.

Aisling Caffrey

Aisling Caffrey

Area of Art: Performance Art, Participatory Art, Painting, Theatre, Installation Art, Audio Video, Spoken Word, Poetry, Literature, Digital, Other

A scriptwriter, creative writing, drama & visual arts facilitator with 15 years experience. Currently studying MA Arts, Health & Wellbeing at Uni of South Wales. I want to connect with creatives, companies & institutions to learn how creative writing & storytelling can support health and wellbeing.

Nikkila Thomas

Nikkila Thomas

Creative Practitioners, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South West Wales

Area of Art: Participatory Art, Music, Poetry

Welsh Soprano, Nikkila Thomas BMus (Hons)., PGDip., MSc is a very motivated individual with a strong musical background and knowledge. She is passionate about utilising her skills as both researcher and practitioner to deliver evidence-based and informed projects with and for people of all ages

Andrew Cuthbert

Andrew Cuthbert

Health & Social Care, Researchers, Charities & Third Sector, Nature & Environment | Location: Mid Wales, South East Wales

I am a retired academic now working as a freelance consultant supporting the growth and development of small charities engaged in nature prescribing activities involving mindfulness, arts, crafts and conservation.

Alec Shepley

Alec Shepley

Creative Practitioners, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: North East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Participatory Art, Installation Art, Sculpture, Audio Video

Alec is Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Arts and Society at Wrexham University. He is an artist in his own right and has always been engaged in the societal and pedagogical aspects of creative practice; rooted in the firm belief that education is the key to transforming lives.

Isabel Benavides

Isabel Benavides

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Illustration, Literature, Animation

I'm a Wales-based storyteller-illustrator, exploring wellbeing, nature & art. I’ve worked with heritage and environmental settings to explore their stories with the public. With focus on the child and family learning, I research and explore socially driven topics that affect us and the planet.

Sally Ann Jones

Sally Ann Jones

Creative Practitioners, Health & Social Care, Arts Organisation Representative, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: North East Wales, North West Wales

Area of Art: Painting, Installation Art, Sculpture, Mixed Media

I am in my third year at Glyndwr University, hoping to complete my Ba (hons) in Fine Art. I am also a local artist in my own right and am very interested in how Art can aid Mental & Physical Health. I am busy researching for next years dissertation on the subject and always open & eager for help!

Dr Tracy Breathnach

Dr Tracy Breathnach

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Performance Art, Participatory Art, Theatre, Spoken Word, Literature

20+ years experience as a participatory artist; performance artist, writer and researcher on the themes of birth trauma and the maternal; trained in Discipline of Authentic Movement + somatic teacher; Culture, Health & Wellbeing consultant; transformational coaching with Break Free & Thrive.

Lisa Snape

Lisa Snape

Creative Practitioners, Health & Social Care, Researchers | Location: North East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Painting, Ceramic, Other

I am a Substance Misuse and Mental Health Coordinator and Listen and Connect volunteer at Designs in Mind based in North East Wales

Laura Roklicer

Laura Roklicer

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South West Wales

Area of Art: Poetry, Literature

Laura is an author, poet, screenwriter, lyricist, freelance writer, and a PhD candidate in Psychology. She studies the link between lucid dreaming and creative writing, using innovative approaches for improving the creative writing practice and working with dreams in therapeutic ways.

Sara Smith

Sara Smith

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South East Wales, South West Wales

Area of Art: Other

I design and make clothing for people living with cognitive and mobility conditions - specifically dementia. My aim is to use clothing design to make a difference. I'm interested in using design to improve daily life, educate and raise awareness of challenging conditions.

Onismo Muhlanga

Onismo Muhlanga

Creative Practitioners, Arts Organisation Representative, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales, South West Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Performance Art, Participatory Art, Music, Theatre, Dance, Mixed Media, Audio Video, Spoken Word, Poetry, Digital

A Zimbabwean born creative and art curator based in Newport. My visual language is informed by my own journey, and interest for ritual and memory. My holistic creative approach combines youth work education with creative art media, poetic justice, visual representation & digital virtual performance.

Richard Axtell

Richard Axtell

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South West Wales

Area of Art: Spoken Word, Poetry, Literature, Other

I am coordinator of Lapidus Cymru/Wales, the professional network for those in the field of writing for wellbeing, and its parent company 'Lapidus International'. I am also a children's writer, and have been known to manage a website or two.

KIRAN Cymru

KIRAN Cymru

Health & Social Care, Arts Organisation Representative, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

KIRAN Cymru is a non-political and non-religious grassroots organisation in Wales promoting well-being by connecting people from diverse communities through different forms of arts. All of our activities are free and open to all. Our activities include workshops on Music, Drums, Arts, Theatre etc.

Lauren Heckler

Lauren Heckler

Creative Practitioners, Arts Organisation Representative, Educators & Trainers, Local Authorities & Public Services, Researchers | Location: South East Wales, South West Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Performance Art, Participatory Art, Photography, Dance, Illustration, Installation Art, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Audio Video, Digital, Animation

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Nikolett Kovacs

Nikolett Kovacs

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South West Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Painting, Mixed Media, Other

I am a painter. I am interested in Multisensory art and making art accessible.

Lucy Bryning

Lucy Bryning

Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: North East Wales, North West Wales

Based at Bangor University I work as a Lecturer and Research Development & Innovation Officer to help implement health innovation in Wales. In my spare time I dance, do triathlon and volunteer with Welsh Cycling through the Breeze programme to help increase women's participation in cycling.

Teri Howson-Griffiths

Teri Howson-Griffiths

Health & Social Care, Researchers | Location: North East Wales, North West Wales

Arts in Health Strategic Lead for the North Wales Health Board (BCUHB), part-time. I also work for Liverpool John Moores University 2 days as a Lecturer. My background is in applied, community and participatory arts. I previously worked on the Dementia and Imagination study at Bangor University.

Natasha Borton

Natasha Borton

Creative Practitioners, Arts Organisation Representative, Researchers | Location: North East Wales

Area of Art: Performance Art, Participatory Art, Theatre, Spoken Word, Poetry, Literature, Other

A Community Artist, Activist and Advocate, I specialise in writing and performance as a spoken word artist, creative producer and facilitator. I particularly enjoy working through co-creation and providing accessible cultural experiences within communities.

Stephen Clift

Stephen Clift

Stephen Clift is Professor Emeritus, Canterbury Christ Church University, and former Director of the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health. He is a Visiting Professor in at York St John University and the University of Leeds.

Elaine Moore

Elaine Moore

Creative Practitioners, Health & Social Care, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Illustration, Mixed Media

I work as a multi-disciplinary artist/designer delivering creative workshops.

Karen Gray

Karen Gray

Researchers | Location: South East Wales

A freelance evaluator and academic researcher. I have particular expertise around arts for people living with dementia and an interest in supporting arts practitioners and organisations to develop their own evaluation resources and skills.

Cardiff PI Diane Crone

Cardiff PI Diane Crone

Researchers | Location: South East Wales, South West Wales

Diane is a Professor in Exercise and Health and Director of the Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research. Her expertise lies in the area of the design, delivery and evaluation of health promoting interventions. Her areas of interest are art for health and in physical activity.

Rafiq Elmansy PhD MA BSc FRSA HEA

Rafiq Elmansy PhD MA BSc FRSA HEA

Creative Practitioners, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: North East Wales

Area of Art: Audio Video, Digital, Animation, Other

Academic lecturer & author teaching design at Wrexham Glyndwr University. I taught at Northumbria University & the American University in Cairo. My research focuses on design & healthcare. I developed the AdherenceCanvas.com to improve patient adherence & Designorate.com. Fellow of HEA & RSA.

Sofia  Vougioukalou

Sofia Vougioukalou

Researchers | Location: South East Wales

I am a qualitative health services researcher with a background in medical anthropology, user-centred design and evaluation. I am currently Research Fellow in Arts and Health evaluating the impact of arts on health and wellbeing across a pan-Wales innovation programme. I am also on the leadership team of the Wellbeing Research Network of the Wales Institute for Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) and I am a member of the All Wales Deaf Mental Health Group. My research programme has been awarded the Dementia Friendly Wales (2021) Diversity Award from Alzheimer's Society Cymru and the Public Involvement award by Health and Care Research Wales.

Ben Ewart-Dean

Ben Ewart-Dean

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Participatory Art, Photography, Audio Video

I’m a film-maker and researcher, with a professional interest in the relationship between film and neurodiversity, particularly autism. My work employs participatory methods, and often explores the ways in which the process of film-making can empower, enrich and connect. ​

Together for Change

Together for Change

Health & Social Care, Funders & Policy Makers, Researchers | Location: South West Wales

TfC is a Pembrokeshire-wide partnership programme and a collaboration between Solva Care, PAVS and PLANED bringing together third- and public-sector organisations to establish a positive legacy from the pandemic, and build on the contribution of community-led action to people’s health & wellbeing.

Ymchwil OB3 Research

Ymchwil OB3 Research

Researchers | Location: South East Wales, South West Wales

OB3 Research is a leading research and evaluation consultancy in Wales, dedicated to quality and impact. Established in 2000, we are a fully bilingual business and provide clients in the public, private and third sector with robust, tailor-made research and analysis.

Straeon Research Ltd

Straeon Research Ltd

Researchers | Location: South East Wales

We are social scientists with backgrounds in philosophy, sociology, health & arts. Projects range from qualitative, creative enquiries to systematic reviews and policy evaluation. We value ‘citizen intelligence’ and find ways to enable participants to tell their stories authentically and creative

Megan Wyatt

Megan Wyatt

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: North East Wales, North West Wales

I am a practicing artist and researcher and I have facilitated and evaluated numerous Arts in Health projects across health, care and community settings. My PhD research investigated how people living with dementia engage with and experience painting whilst working alongside an artist (myself).

Dewi Evans

Dewi Evans

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Performance Art, Participatory Art, Theatre, Installation Art, Spoken Word, Poetry

Theatre Practitioner, Artist, and Researcher currently undertaking a PhD in Performances of Mental Illness. My practice-based research PhD is titled 'Autobiographic Performances of Mental Illness: How can Autobiographic Performances Decolonise, Destigmatise, and Devictimise Mental Health'

Clary Saddler Forget-Me-Not-Productions

Clary Saddler Forget-Me-Not-Productions

Creative Practitioners, Arts Organisation Representative, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Performance Art, Participatory Art, Music, Theatre, Dance, Mixed Media, Audio Video, Spoken Word, Poetry, Literature, Digital, Animation

Forget-Me-Not-Productions is a reputable, high quality, inclusive arts and assistive technology organisation based in Wales. We develop high quality inclusive arts projects and education & reminiscence workshops across the UK. We specialise in working with people with complex physical disabilities.

Thania Acarón

Thania Acarón

Creative Practitioners, Health & Social Care, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Participatory Art, Dance, Other

Dance movement psychotherapist, researcher, lecturer & performer. Works both as an independent practitioner and lecturer at the University of South Wales. Offers international workshops on movement for wellbeing, LGBT+ issues, dance movement psychotherapy & embodied decision-making. @thaniaacaron

Maria Hayes

Maria Hayes

Creative Practitioners, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: North West Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Performance Art, Painting

Dr. Maria Hayes is an award winning artist and artist facilitator. Currently Elysium Healthcare contracts her to create Recovery Tree murals with patients and staff in secure hospitals. She regularly trains and mentors other artists and facilitators, and is passionate about Arts in Health wo

Stephanie Roberts

Stephanie Roberts

Arts Organisation Representative, Researchers | Location: South East Wales, South West Wales

I work with the art collections at National Museum Cardiff. Our work around health and wellbeing is close to my heart, especially after experiencing chronic illness myself. Formerly Paintings in Hospitals co-ordinator for south Wales, I am now studying a doctorate in Health Studies at Cardiff.

Susan Liggett

Susan Liggett

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: North East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Participatory Art, Painting, Installation Art, Digital

Susan is a visual artist, researcher and curator. She has organized exhibitions, chaired conferences and published work on the interface of art/science. She is a member of the Royal Cambrian and is Associate Dean for Research at Wrexham Glyndŵr University.

Lorna Bates

Lorna Bates

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: North East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Participatory Art, Painting, Photography, Mixed Media

I have a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Glasgow School of Art, an MA in Art Practice from Glyndwr University and am currently on a PGCE in post compulsory education. Having worked as a caregiver for the elderly, I have realised that I would like to work with the elderly in an arts capacity.

Christina Thatcher

Christina Thatcher

Creative Practitioners, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Spoken Word, Poetry, Literature

I am a Creative Writing Lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University with research interests in the role of creative writing as a therapeutic intervention. I have led hundreds of writing for wellbeing workshops in schools and communities. I am also a member of the Literature Wales Management Board.

James Lewis

James Lewis

Researchers | Location: South East Wales

I am the co-lead and academic director of Y Lab, the Public Services Innovation Lab for Wales, a partnership between Cardiff University and Nesta. For our Arts and Health work, see https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/arts-and-health/

Emily Underwood-Lee

Emily Underwood-Lee

Researchers | Location: South East Wales

I am Research Fellow at the George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling. My research concerns first person and autobiographical storytelling and performance with a focus on feminist performance, narratives of illness, performance and the maternal and performance and disability.

Beth Pickard

Beth Pickard

Creative Practitioners, Educators & Trainers, Researchers | Location: South East Wales

Area of Art: Visual Art, Participatory Art, Music

Beth is a music therapist and PhD researcher at the University of South Wales exploring pedagogy of disability. In addition, Beth is also Course Leader for the BA(Hons) in Creative and Therapeutic Arts degree, where visual arts students develop inclusive and participatory practices in the community.

Katherine Algar-Skaife

Katherine Algar-Skaife

Researchers | Location: North West Wales

I am passionate about improving the quality of life and well-being of people living with dementia and those who support them, and in particular through the arts. Over the last 10 years, most of my research has focussed on the benefits of the arts for those who live in, work in, and visit care homes.

Sarah Pogoda

Sarah Pogoda

Creative Practitioners, Researchers | Location: North West Wales

Area of Art: Performance Art, Participatory Art, Theatre, Other

I'm a Lecturer in German Studies at Bangor University, and my research areas explore Artistic Research, Institutional Critique, Avant Garde Performance Art and Theatre. As Artistic Research I pursue interventions, Happenings, and Participatory Performances.

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