THE STUDIO
The Old Stores Studio CIC is a nonprofit community interest art studio, workshop and events space in an old Victorian shop building in the heart of Evercreech, Somerset—just ten minutes from Bruton and Castle Cary, under an hour from Bristol and Bath. Positioned in a conservation area with a beautiful old shopfront, studio space and half-acre plot, we offer versatile indoor and outdoor workshop and event spaces year-round.
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Built around a core belief in inclusive learning and participation, we offer extensive facilities including multi-disciplinary printmaking, pottery, enamel, silver clay and glass kilns, plus large, light-filled adaptable studios for all creative practices. We have sewing machines and overlockers, large cutting boards, screen printing facilities, a community printing press and equipment that was kindly donated to us by wood engraver and printmaker Jill Barker. We also have our newly developed pottery studio, kiln room and ceramics studio space through the kind legacy donation of tools and equipment by potter Linda Browne. Thanks to Somerset Community Foundation for helping us to provide fully accessible facilities for this new aspect of our studio space and provision to be open to all.
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As a not-for-profit social enterprise and registered learning centre, we deliver an inclusive, subsidised community programme of creative activities and Ofsted-rated courses for all ages and abilities through our community partnership learning partnership with Somerset Council to deliver inclusive adult learning. Alongside our funded programme, we offer tailored creative days, weekends and activities, and can visit other venues with our studio van for offsite workshops. All sessions are led by professional artists, makers and expert creative practitioners, and everything we do is for, with, and goes back into our local community.
Nik Slade
Studio Founder
& Director
Nik specialises in textiles and printmaking and has over twenty years of experience in further and higher education. She has worked as a teacher, lecturer, and Artist Educator in both formal and informal settings. Her experience in gallery education and project managing large-scale socially engaged artworks has shaped her multidisciplinary approach to learning and participation. Nik also runs Hands Down Baby Prints from the studio (and available for appointments in and around Somerset, Bristol & Bath) for bespoke life casting and solid silver keepsake jewellery. Email Nik to find out more at handsdownbabyprints@gmail.com.
Hilary Chittenden
Studio Director
Hilary is a creative learning strategist, designer, and producer who brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. With expertise spanning graphic design, project management, and facilitation, she excels at using creativity and design thinking to solve complex problems while also getting hands-on to bring projects to life. Hilary's strategic approach is balanced with practical implementation skills, allowing her to wear many hats and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Her passion for creative challenge and collaborative problem-solving, combined with her diverse skill set, helps shape the strategic direction and delivery of the studio programme, working with a range of partners to deliver our workshops, courses, groups and events.
Alice Boewn- Churchill
Studio Director
In addition to her work in Art and Design Further Education as a tutor and lecturer, Alice is a socially engaged textiles artist and designer. She believes creative practice should be accessible to everyone and uses collaborative making—particularly stitching—to spark conversations and transform small actions into lasting impact. Her work includes large-scale collaborative pieces using recycled materials, often created with contributions from diverse communities and has collaborated with Glastonbury Festival, Oxfam, Joint Charities Partners, Spectroscope, and the Wellcome Collection and brings a wide range of skills to help direct the studio programme with a key focus on the development of our youth programme. She brings valuable experiences and skills to the studio programme.
Maria Cauchi
Studio Founder
& Director
Maria oversees the creative development and running of the studio programme. She has worked in the education sector for many years following a background in west end theatre as a stage manager, scenic painter, prop buyer and maker. Her experience in the arts and education provides a natural progression to events, programme and course management at the studio. Maria is also a trained silversmith, upholsterer and florist and runs a candle making business repurposing vintage crockery and items to create her unique artisan scented candles. She brings a wealth of experience and direction to the studio formation and development.
Jo Norman
Studio Director
Jo has worked in secondary education as a teacher and tutor alongside her creative practice as an artist and designer. Having studied fashion and textiles with a specialism in surface design, her practice has evolved from designing for fashion and interiors to creating limited edition artworks. Jo's current work explores the qualities of screen printing and risograph, with her practice continually evolving through collage and layering techniques. Drawing inspiration from observations of the countryside and everyday life, her work features recurring themes presented in both graphic and abstracted forms. Jo brings her experience in education and creative practice to help direct the studio programme and assist with the delivery of our creative learning programme.
Steering Group
CIC Advisory Group
Our steering group comprises diverse community members who play a vital role in shaping our work and learning programme at the studio. Our steering group is being developed to reflect the diversity of our community and to provide the valuable guidance and support to build effective reflective practice. The members of our group help us us to make key decisions, monitors progress, and ensures our activities align with our core community-focused mission. By bringing different perspectives and lived experiences, the group helps ensure our projects and activities are inclusive and genuinely meet the needs of everyone in our community in line with our equality aqnd diversity policies. For further details please get in touch if you'd like to join our group and help to shape our programme.