about newbiggin arts forum

The Newbiggin Arts Forum Committee

 

Chair : Jason Thompson

On graduating in 1992 I took a teaching post at Newbiggin Middle school where I ran the music department and had a Year 5 form class, teaching Music and Humanities. In 1995 I moved to a teaching post at Ashington High School, as Head of Music, where I stayed until 1998 whilst also being involved in freelance Multimedia Consultancy, part time.

Having set up my web development business in 1995 part time, I left teaching to pursue Multimedia Consultancy and Development full time in 1998. My business, Sound Ideas, is run from my home in Newbiggin, and is mainly involved in web site and CD-ROM development and consultancy, as well as web training and photography.

I work mainly in the North East of England with a wide range of clients from self-employed individuals to local government and education organisations. During the time the business has been established I have developed over 200 web site and multimedia projects, and have won local and national awards for web site and CD-ROM development.

Personal interests include music – performing in a 10 piece Rhythm and Blues band (drums and percussion) and Jazz Ensemble (drums) as well as playing piano/keyboards, guitar, and singing for various small local gigs and performances. I am also interested in photography – mainly local landscapes – which are taken with digital SLR camera and finished in Photoshop software. I enjoy films from a wide range of genres, particularly those of the 1940s-1960s, French, Italian and Spanish cinema, and even some classic silent movies, althougn I'm not above sitting in front of a mindless Hollywood blockbuster as long as it's not a Western.

 

I moved into Newbiggin by the Sea in September 2004 from North Shields but grew up in North East Hampshire. I work for Newcastle University as a Learning and Teaching Advisor delivering academic IT skills to students. I have a wide range of hobbies and interests of which in Art include playing the Saxophone, Piano, Scottish Bagpipes (with Morpeth Pipe Band) and Recorder, water-colour painting, calligraphy and theatre where directing is my strength. I also dance, in particular ballroom and latin american. Most of these hobbies are dormant as there simply isn't enough hours in the day but I hope that my involvement in Newbiggin Arts Forum will allow me to indulge some time in most of these interests and learn some more, plus meet fellow villagers.

 

Treasurer & Speaker Co-ordinator: Laura Mathieson

Although I grew up in Manchester, my family originate from Amble, where I have lived for the last 14 years. I work from home in my own business, selling antiques and collectables online. My background is diverse, covering work in Community Development, Banking and Catering.
I have a lifelong interest in the Arts, particularly the Performing Arts, painting and writing. I took up painting last year, and have been amazed to discover that even though technically I am hopeless, being able to express myself in another medium is wonderful!

 

Vice Chair, PR & Marketing : Rebecca de’Wessington

Originally from the midlands and having lived all over the country and abroad, I have resided in the North East for the last 13 years. I am married to Ian and mother of four, mostly grown up, children.

My career has spanned many different types of work from business travel, nursing, hotel work, housing security, housing repairs, to the civil service. The latter convincing me that I should set up my own business.

After moving to Newbiggin by the Sea in 2005 and establishing new friends, I was encouraged to take the plunge and with their help and the support of my family, I launched Pride of Northumbria, a regional luxury hamper business.

I enjoy art, crafts, music and creative writing and wanted to be part of the forum to explore these further and also, thought it would be a chance to meet others from the community, as I am new to the area.