Nottingham-based website aims to help artists

Artists are being given a helping hand to weather the global economic recession following the launch of a new website.

Founding editor Nottingham-based Andy Pepper has unveiled www.WeLikeArtists.com to provide free specialist guides and intelligent savings for artists and independent creative professionals.

The site has 12 advisors from 11 cities around the world, and has been developed as a free resource for those who are embarking on a career in art, as well as those who already work in the creative field.

“Generally, artists are undervalued,” said Andy, who is a visiting lecturer in fine art at Nottingham Trent University and The University of Lincoln. “As a society we like them to fill our surroundings with great work but often leave them unsupported to ‘get on with it’. It is hard enough surviving in normal circumstances, let alone in an economic recession. The new website WeLikeArtists aims to give artists a break.”

The website is designed for emerging artists, established artists, and students, and includes advice on promoting work digitally and approaching a gallery for the first time, ways to save money on equipment and other essentials, and practical tips on running a business. It also features places to set up free online portfolios, free websites, free organisational tools and ways to get free business cards.

"As an independent artist you tend to discover shortcuts and savings to stretch the budget. That's normal. Much of the time survival is about flexibility and adaptation,” said Andy, who is an artist working with installations, holography and light. “I realised that some of the things I had unearthed, and ways I was working, might be useful to others in the same boat, so WeLikeArtists has become a central location to distribute some of that information."

Among the advisors to the site are Tracy Cordingley , a product designer and senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, Sarah McNicol, the Hive operations manager at Nottingham Trent University, Jonathan Ross, a holography collector and director of Gallery 286 in London, S Mark Gubb, an artist based in Cardiff, and Arthur Brown, who is a graphic designer and managing director of the Cooling Brown Partnership which has been responsible for some of the most successful illustrated reference books published in recent years, including Wallace & Gromit.

International advisors are based in Germany, Sweden, India, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Andy, who lives in West Bridgford, spent two years developing the site and within three hours of going live, www.WeLikeArtists.com received visitors from around the world.

“Everyone who has worked on the development of the site has done so for free,” said Andy. “They think artists should be supported and wanted this site to help in some, small, way.”

World Cup range of sausages and burgers at Croots Farm Shop helps raise cash for charity

A Derbyshire good cause has emerged a winner from the sale of a World Cup range of sausages and burgers at Croots Farm Shop after more than £300 was raised for Treats Children’s Charity.

Stoke City player Rory Delap helped kick off the charity fund-raising effort at the Duffield farm shop just before the World Cup got underway.

Ten per cent from the sale of the Bangerooney, WAG, and Three Lions sausages and the Johanna’s Burgers throughout the football tournament was donated to the Derbyshire-based children’s charity.

Now it’s been announced that £310 has been collected for Treats, which was launched more than 22 years ago by a group of professional businesswomen in Derbyshire to raise money for the children of Derbyshire and the surrounding region.

“Our customers really got behind our fund-raising effort for Treats and I’m delighted that we raised more than £300 for the charity,” said Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road.

Croots is renowned for its sausages, and created the World Cup range especially to raise money for Treats, which is the shop’s chosen charity of the year.

Free taster sessions to mark Bunny Hill Riding Centre’s 55th birthday

Beginner, novice and experienced horse riders are being invited to take part in free taster sessions on offer from a riding stable that’s celebrating its 55th anniversary.

The birthday ‘presents’ are being given by Bunny Hill Riding Centre on the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border near Costock to mark the family-run firm’s milestone.

The 10-15 minute free sessions on Saturday July 31st are open to would-be riders keen to get into the saddle, lapsed riders who’ve not been on a horse for years, as well as regular riders who might need help with a specific challenge. Riders with their own horses are also being encouraged to pop along for assessments and advice.

The consultations are being held as part of an open day and are the chance for riders to receive expert tips from the stable’s owners, Sam and Lou Humphrey, as well as the opportunity for non-riders who fancy finding out what it’s like to learn to ride.

Bunny Hill Riding Centre is staging a series of events during 2010 to celebrate its 55th anniversary. The equestrian centre was launched in 1955 by Sam Humphrey’s parents, Freda and the late Bob Humphrey, and has taught thousands of people to ride.

“We’re running the open day and free taster sessions to give people the chance to find out more about learning to ride, and to offer lapsed riders the chance to get back in the saddle,” said Sam Humphrey.

“It’s also an opportunity for regular riders to come along and ask us questions about specific problems or challenges they want to over come. Riders at all stages are continually learning.”

The sessions will run from 11am to 4pm, and are open to riders who want to bring their own horses, or those who’d like to try Bunny Hill Riding Centre’s horses. Children from four years old are eligible.

Visitors will have the chance to look around the facilities on offer at Bunny Hill Riding Centre, including the indoor school and the floodlit outdoor ménage.

To take part in a free ten-15 minute taster session, register by email or phone on lou@bunnyhill.co.uk or 01509 852366, stating name, address, telephone number and email address, and a slot will then be allocated. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bunnyhill.co.uk for more information.

Two ** Gold Great Taste Award for Anila’s ‘ absolutely perfect’ Goan Green Curry Sauce

Anila’s Authentic Sauces has scooped a two ** Gold Great Taste Award for its popular Goan Green Curry Sauce.


The accolade marks the 11th Great Taste Award presented to Anila’s range of premium curry sauces, chutneys, pickles and dips by The Guild of Fine Foods.

To win such a high rating, up to 20 judges unanimously agreed that the Goan Green Curry Sauce had achieved ‘absolute perfection’.

“The Goan Green Curry Sauce is one of our most popular sauces, and we are thoroughly delighted that the judges of the Great Taste Awards 2010 agree that it’s something very special,” said Anila Vaghela, who founded Anila’s Authentic Sauces in 1997.

“It’s such a versatile and delicious curry sauce, and as it is gluten free, dairy free and with no added sugar, as well as being suitable for vegetarians, it appeals to a very wide range of tastes. We love it, our customers love it and now we’ve had confirmation from The Guild of Fine Foods, which promotes excellence in speciality food.”

The Great Taste Awards are the national benchmark in speciality food and drink, and have been running since 1993.

Made with mint, coriander, spinach and coconut, Anila’s Goan Green Curry Sauce is sold in a range of speciality retailers, delis and farm shops, including Harrods and John Lewis Food Halls at Oxford Street and Bluewater.

It is one of eight premium curry sauces, handmade in small batches, by Anila’s, and is perfect with fish, prawns and vegetables. The firm also produces a range of 16 chutneys, pickles and dips made with single fruits and vegetables.

Previous Great Taste Award winners in the range include three *** Gold Awards for Anila’s Spicy Korma and Spicy Mild curry sauces, and awards for the Chilli Chutney and Tindoori Pickle. The Spicy Korma Curry Sauce also scooped a Free From Food Award in 2009.

Anila’s Authentic Sauces is based in Walton-on-Thames with a unit in Hounslow, and is run by Anila and her husband Dan.

Anila’s cooking has always been popular with friends and family, and in the early 1990s she began selling jars of curry sauce on a very small scale in her local community in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. She sold all 80 jars at her first fair at Weybridge in 1992. Phone calls from very satisfied customers followed, and Anila began fulfilling small orders.

In 1997 she was made redundant from a job as a PA and decided to seize the opportunity to form her own company to develop Anila’s Authentic Sauces.

She carried out extensive research, took expert business advice, and felt there was a gap in the market for high-quality, premium curry sauces. She soon gained a listing in the food hall of her local department store, and before long Anila’s curry sauces were on the shelves of a range of health stores, delicatessens and independent specialist shops.

Anila outgrew her kitchen at home and moved to a catering kitchen in Surbiton in 2002. A year later the business needed larger premises once more, and Anila’s re-located to a 1400 sq ft unit in Hounslow. In 2006, husband Dan also joined the team.

Anila’s products are now sold at John Lewis Oxford Street and John Lewis Bluewater, and top quality gourmet stores, such as Harrods, Wholefoods and Planet Organic, plus hundreds of other outlets that include health food stores, garden centres and gift shops, as well as smaller independent stores such as Budgens at Ascot, Shepperton and Crouch End. Anila’s also sells direct to the public at 28 farmers’ markets across Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, including Guildford, Walton, Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Cobham, Beaconsfield and Farnham, and online via www.anilassauces.com

Regional and Speciality Food and Drink market in Nottingham offers doggy foodie delights for the first time

Shoppers at this month’s Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market in Nottingham can pick up supplies for their four-legged friends for the first time after a new stall joined the market.


Mrs Bishop’s Doggy Deli will be selling biccy bones and other handmade doggy treats at the monthly market on Friday July 16th and Saturday July 17th.

The market, run by East Midlands Fine Foods in conjunction with Nottingham City Council, features up to 30 different stalls and has been running for more than three years – attracting a wide variety of regional producers and suppliers.

But this is the first time that speciality food for pets has been on sale.

“The East Midlands is home to a wonderful array of speciality food and drink producers, and the Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market gives shoppers in Nottingham the chance to buy their products from them directly each month,” said Jo Murphy, from East Midlands Fine Foods. “Now we’re offering handmade, locally produced items for dogs too.”

Nottingham firm Mrs Bishop’s Doggy Deli uses flour from Green’s Windmill and other locally sourced ingredients to make a range of speciality dog biscuits.

Another stall joining this month’s market is Rico Mexican Kitchen, run by Marcela Flores Newburn and based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham. She sells a range of authentic Mexican products, including salsas, beans and cooking sauces.

The market is held in the Old Market Square on the third Friday and Saturday of every month between 9am and 4.30pm. Items on offer include cheese, meats, preserves, cakes and other products from around the East Midlands.

Food and Drink iNet business support bus rolls into Lincolnshire

Food and drink firms in South Lincolnshire are being invited to climb aboard a business support bus when it rolls into town - and discover new routes to success.

The Food and Drink iNet outreach bus will be at Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre, Spalding, on July 20th between 10am and 4pm.

On board will be business advisors from the Food and Drink iNet and the Sustainable Construction iNet, who will be able to offer free innovation advice and guidance.

As well as signposting firms to the help and support that’s available for businesses in the area from the iNets, they will also be highlighting opportunities such as CompeteFor, which is a free service that enables businesses to compete for contract opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games and other major public and private sector buying organisations. Other programmes that will come under the spotlight are Angle Plc, the Wash Fen Programme and Select Lincolnshire.

“The outreach bus is a really handy way for us to get out onto the road to spread the message about the iNets and the free innovation support that the iNet business advisors can offer,” said Rachel Linstead, Lincolnshire Business Advisor for the Food and Drink iNet. “We will also be promoting additional business support that’s available in the area, and showing firms how easy it is to register for CompeteFor, which could be the first step towards them getting involved in supplying food and drink for the 2012 Olympics.

“That could prove to be a massive opportunity for food and drink firms in Lincolnshire.”

The roadshow event coincides with the South Holland Food Festival, which runs from 19th July to 15th August 2010.

Businesses working in the food and drink sector, the construction sector and in other areas are encouraged to drop in to the outreach bus during the visit to Lincolnshire on July 20th.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands. One of four iNets, it strives to develop an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

During the initial two-year phase of the Food and Drink iNet, more than 300 businesses in the region were supported, grants were given to 57 firms, and funding was provided for nine university collaboration projects. It also ran a successful series of events that attracted more than 650 delegates from 150 businesses to look at some of the key industry issues, as well as staging three best practice factory visits.

Now the second phase of the Food and Drink iNet has begun and there are plans to build on the work that’s already been achieved in supporting food and drink manufacturers in the East Midlands.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information visit www.eminnovation.org.uk

New director for Nottingham architects and building surveyors Church Lukas

Nottingham architects and building surveyors Church Lukas have strengthened their team with the appointment of a new director.

John Freeman, a chartered architect, brings extensive expertise in the retail, leisure and office sectors, as well as specialist knowledge of strategic facilities management gained as part of an MBA programme. His appointment has been made to help Church Lukas build on its reputation as an award-winning practice.

John, who was previously a director at Stockton-on-Tees architects Listers, joins fellow directors Sue Churchill, Chris Mahony and Andrew Roberts at the Victoria Street offices of Church Lukas, which has been established since 1993 and offers a nationwide service.

“Church Lukas is renowned for its regeneration projects, which have historically been residential-led,” said director Sue Churchill. “We recognised that the retail element of our mixed-use schemes was having a far greater influence on the viability of our projects and knew that being able to offer specialist design skills in this area would be beneficial to both the practice and our clients. John’s expertise in the retail sector, along with his knowledge of property asset management will complement our senior management team.”

His strategic facilities management knowledge is seen as increasingly important, as all businesses respond to the current economic situation and consider efficiencies in their property portfolios.

Chris Mahony, Director of Building Consultancy at Church Lukas, welcomed John’s appointment saying: “We live in a changing world and more and more firms are looking to make the most of their assets, whether by occupying smaller space to reduce running costs or through partial disposal. We are also starting to see far greater awareness of the impact of both rising energy costs and carbon trading following the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme and John’s expertise in these areas will be invaluable. His passion for reducing carbon matches our aim to be a national leader for low carbon buildings in both building surveying and architecture.”

Andrew Roberts added: “John has the very rare ability to be creative, commercial and compliant. He is perfectly positioned to help us expand and deliver our low carbon projects. We are very fortunate to have him join us.”

John began his career as an apprentice joiner with a building contractor near Barnsley before training as an architect at Birmingham School of Architecture. He went on to study for a diploma at the University of Sheffield, while at the same time working for a number of Sheffield practices. He later undertook a training course at Huddersfield University which paved the way to him lecturing at universities in Sheffield and Huddersfield.

John started his professional career in the property department of a major national bank before moving to private practice and specialising in large scale commercial projects.

“Church Lukas is a forward-looking, entrepreneurial practice that has prepared itself for a new economy and is already reaping the rewards. I am excited by the projects that are on the drawing board,” he said.

Since launching 17 years ago, Church Lukas has seen a significant change in its projects, now having a major involvement in research and development for industry-changing housing initiatives alongside its core commercial sectors.

Pictured left to right, Church Lukas directors John Freeman, Andrew Roberts, Chris Mahony and Sue Churchill.