Exhibiting Artists
Stephen Roden
Feb 2026 to date
Stephen studied Fine Art painting at Central School of Art and Design. He returned to printmaking after leaving college as he enjoyed the physicality involved in making a woodcut or linocut print which he would then hand burnish.
Stephen went on to use the industrial pallet as the support for his painting because he needed to feel the resistance of solid timber rather than canvas. This led to wood carving which he has also gilded.
The physicality is important and I believe craft can have a place in fine Art - Stephen Roden
Kate Roberts
Kate Roberts (Nomadikat) is an author, photographer, and interdisciplinary artist whose work explores place, memory, and belonging.
Since her arrival in Dahab just over three years ago, Kate has been gathering impressions, encounters, and stories of the town - listening closely to its landscapes and to the people who call it home.
These magical meetings with fellow Dahabians culminated in the photographic book Dahab: Gold on Gold. The book brings together 33 photographs taken in 33 locations across Dahab, each accompanied by three words shared by 33 local participants, presented in both English and Arabic. The locations are mapped using the locational app what3words, grounding each image and voice precisely in place.
A small selection of these photographs were on display and available to buy.
Lesley Mayné
Lesley is a wildlife and pet portrait artist living in Chester. She works mainly in coloured pencil as she loves the intricate details she can achieve; perfect for animal art and pet portraits.
She enjoys capturing the character and attitude of animals, often drawing them looking straight back at the viewer, as if they have something to say about the situation. Their expressions can feel curious, unimpressed, a bit annoyed (understandably) or quietly amused by the humans observing them.
Lesley also likes to capture quieter moments of animals simply going about their business — searching for food, exploring their surroundings, and simply getting on with life.
Alongside her wildlife work, Lesley is also a commissioned pet portrait artist. For the past 9 years, she has been creating detailed coloured pencil portraits that capture the personality of much-loved pets, something she considers to be a real privilege.
Since childhood, she’s always had a natural talent for illustration but gently veered away from formal training, preferring to trust her instincts and keep her love of drawing uncomplicated. Lesley is a proud member of the Association of Animal Artists and the UK Colour Pencil Society.
@lesleymayneartworks
Gareth Rainsforth
Gareth Rainsforth is a photography enthusiast based in Chester, UK, with a passion for capturing the beauty, character and atmosphere of the city he calls home.
Specialising in architectural photography, Gareth is particularly drawn to Chester’s historic streets, landmarks and unique urban landscapes. He also enjoys exploring a range of photographic styles, including long-exposure photography, selective colouring, astrophotography and night photography, often incorporating these techniques to create striking and distinctive images.
From an early age, Gareth has been fascinated by the visual arts. During his time in higher education, he acquired his first camera and began learning the art of photography and photo editing. After graduating from the University of Chester with a degree in Multimedia Technologies, he continued to develop his skills while working on a variety of multimedia projects for the university.
Although his education and professional experience provided a strong foundation, Gareth is largely self-taught and has spent years refining his craft through practice, experimentation and a genuine passion for photography.
His work has received recognition through several photography competitions. In 2018, Gareth was selected as one of twelve winners of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust Calendar Competition, with his photograph featured in the organisation’s 2019 calendar. In 2020, he won the inaugural Sigma UK Lockdown Challenge, with his winning image showcased on Sigma UK's social media platforms.
Beyond competitions, Gareth’s photography is regularly featured in the Chester Standard newspaper and across its social media channels, where his images continue to celebrate the beauty and heritage of Chester and beyond.
To view more of Gareth’s work, follow him on Instagram: @gareth.rainsforth.
Annette Albuquerque
Born and raised in Chester before skipping off to Manchester to study and thence to London to teach in a fabulously off-the-wall prep school.
It was a very arty school and the head teacher liked to say that the children's pictures were crucial in holding up the crumbling walls.
Eventually Annette returned to Chester and life as a wife, mother, cat-slave and supply teacher.
Painting, drawing and generally creating had always been a big part of Annette's being; but life has a habit of getting in the way.
One Christmas, when he was about 15, the lovely son presented his exhausted mother with 3 small canvases and a box of paints, saying: "I think you need to start painting again..." So she did.
The son is 29 now, the cats have gone to the great cattery in the sky and Annette is working as a children's tutor. And painting.
Matt Wilde
Graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in 1998 with a BA in Fine Art, Matt has since built an impressive portfolio, holding solo exhibitions across the UK, including in cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, and London.
His work has been showcased internationally, most recently with a commission of six large paintings for permanent display on 7th Avenue in New York . Wilde’s style is characterized by his quick, sketch-like application of media. With pieces held in private and public collections worldwide, including in the USA, Germany, and Australia, Wilde draws inspiration from everyday experiences—commutes, family life and consumer culture.
@mattwildeartist.
Bespoke Bookmark Artists Bios
Riley Santangelo
Riley is a digital artist who currently makes professional nerd art. You can see her work on merchandise and on various book covers, including Die Booth's Cool S. She lives in the US with her wife and many pets.
@riley.northsky.social
Susan Wilson/@livielovexx
A Renaissance Woman, survived growing up in the 70s. Trained in ceramics at Staffordshire University and Wolverhampton University. Now a teacher and artist/maker, Haiku writer. Likes to draw naked people. Work displayed in the Williamson Open 2025/2026.
Die Booth
Die Booth is an author of quiet, queer horror from Chester who loves illustrating zines and will draw anything with a biro.
diebooth.wordpress.com
Bespoke Bookmark Ticket
Marc Burrows
Marc Burrows
Sophie Calon
Marc Burrows
@kayfilmsstuff
@stephenroden1
@livielovexx
@livielovexx
@livielovexx
@livielovexx
@nunya_bisnis_art
@nunya_bisnis_art
diebooth.wordpress.com
@untamedphotographyboutique
@untamedphotographyboutique
@untamedphotographyboutique
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@NAMO.I.I
Riley Santangelo @riley.northsky.social
www.sophiasillustration.co.uk
www.sophiasillustration.co.uk
@zoelambrakis
www.sophiasillustration.co.uk
Miglena Petrova - @unhingedjourney
Die Booth
diebooth.wordpress.com
Nikki Pinder and the Window
@nikkipinderart
Nikki Pinder is a mural artist and illustrator who creates vibrant nature inspired artworks, fun sticker characters, prints and Posca window drawings including for Brow HQ, Death By Tacos, Ropewalks hotel, Cow in Liverpool, and chalk board drawings for The Storyhouse and Theatre Porto.
A career highlight creating illustrated canvases for Lush to be displayed alongside Peter Tatchell speaking in London for Pride.
You can find her paintings at Chester Zoo, Sandy Lane river steps, Caldy Valley bollards, BT cabinets, Shuttle bus SEND classroom, shutters in Ellesmere Port market, and at Good Catch in Crosby.
Her designs have featured on iPhone cases in Harvey Nichols stores, Ed Harcourt records, on River Island clothing, bags, Acupuncture high-top shoes and t-shirts in Japan, in Bido Lito publications, CALM, Qatar Airways, American Greetings, Singletrack, Tortoise and GQ magazines.
All images taken by Nikki Pinder
