December was a right damp squib…

Or more correctly akin to a hurricane. The weather this year for Christmas markets was absolutely crap, to be fair, and it is an issue those of us whose businesses rely on these markets to see us through the following months.

Luckily in January and February I was kept really busy with my fantastic multi-talented friend and collaborator Wade, working on his many projects, starting with Discreetest 2000 which has given me my first IMDB credit as cinematographer and production manager, filmed on video8 and now released as a zine with the full story and DVD.

What a treat it was but WOW was it tiring- it involved fireworks, a mercy mission to Middlesbrough and back, learning how to use 1980s and 1990s film and photography tech and A LOT of coffee.

Discreetest 2000 Teaser Trailer

We went straight from our weekend jaunt across North Yorkshire Dales and Coast, into the Premiere of The Busby and Me. This is Wade’s 17 year telling of the Legend of the Busby Stoop took Wade’s original teenage ghost hunting footage and blended it with new footage he’d taken at the back end of last year.

The premiere was a full house at the stunning vintage Ritz Cinema in Thirsk, where the Museum holding the fated chair resides, and the film was fantastically received, with a queue of people clamouring to get in, a queue for our merch stall which included my Illustration for the film, signed by Wade and me. Sadie introduced the film and it was an unreal night!

Straight from the Busby, Wade released a third project, Poetry on 8 tape – a really special one for me.

Taking his favoured video8 film again and blending it with his eclectic poetry and music from Sadie Joan this beautiful meditation of films starts with a poem about my own Nana, who died when I was a child and Wade recreated through his creativity, and gave me another mention as a cast member.

This one’s on Youtube now and absolutely needs a view.

A quick Zine Fest Update ..

Tees Zine Fest in now a CIC and we’re working hard to put in place everything to get the funding for our upcoming workshops for 13-17 and 18-25 year olds in East Cleveland. Zine Fest dates are out and tables are booking quickly !

This time we’re running a Zine Fest on 24th May and a Makers Market on 31st May at Unit 7, Navigator North, which they run as a gallery and arts space opposite Primark in Middlesbrough, and are kind enough to support us with. If you want a stall, see our FB and INSTA pages for links!

Coming Up!

Never moan about being quiet! I’ve got loads coming up. After my graphic recording this year so far for a couple of great organisations, it’s definitely here to stay and I have bookings into April!

Rumana and I will be back to Saltburn in a couple of weeks with the Saltburn Valley of Light, fabulously run by Stellar Creates. This time we’re taking Muslim symbolism to our light piece, to celebrate Ramadan.

We’ll be working together again in April with more willow and cultural storytelling at Ormesby Hall for a beautiful commission the based on Japanese Cherry Blossom festivals.

And so it begins!