Meet The Resident Artists
Andy Hopton
Andy, a full-time artist based in Gravesend, Kent, boasts a versatile artistic repertoire encompassing 2D and 3D art across various mediums. Born in the early Seventies in the North East of England, Andy's upbringing abroad and diverse UK residencies in London and Cambridgeshire profoundly influence his work. Holding degrees in Politics and History from The Metropolitan University, London, he concurrently served with The Territorial Army, later joining the Metropolitan Police in 1998.
Over 25 years in law enforcement provided Andy with a rich tapestry of experiences that infuse his art with profound narratives. His interests in history, diverse cultures, pop culture, sci-fi, steam punk, comic books, animation, and British natural history converge in his creations, each telling a unique story or sparking conversations.
In his second career, Andy, a qualified meditation and mindfulness teacher, seamlessly integrates mindfulness into his artistic practice. As the Chair of the Gravesend Art Group, he actively promotes art accessibility in North Kent. Inspired by Gravesend town, he undertakes projects rooted in its history. As an Art Is For All resident artist, Andy's evolving work can be experienced at his studio and showcased at St Georges Art Gallery, Gravesend, and Gravesend Art Group exhibitions.
Kas Fitzpatrick
Kas became fascinated with fluid art after watching too many You Tube videos. In September 2021 she purchased many more paints than were necessary, and various additives and tools that weren’t needed to get started, and started throwing paint out of cups. With constant practise over three months, she finally started to get the results she hoped for.
Since joining AIFA in Gravesend at the end of 2023, Kas has been happily splashing, pouring, spinning and generally playing with paint in her studio. Fluid art is a gloriously unpredictable art form that is exciting and at times quite frustrating and she is looking forward to running workshops to introduce others to this art, enabling them to learn from her mistakes. Visitors will be invited to view her insane collection of paints…
Aimee Maxelon
Aimee, a multifaceted artist, designer, and maker, has passionately redirected her creativity towards sustainable artistry. Over the past two years, she has salvaged over 2,500 discarded plastic bottles from potential landfill, transforming them into vibrant recycled flowers. Actively engaged in litter picking across Kent, Aimee, accompanied by her five-year-old son, consistently contributes to waste reduction.
A sought-after creative, Aimee has crafted bespoke flowers for weddings, events, and film sets, earning recognition from prestigious platforms like Vogue magazine, the Chelsea in Bloom festival, and even the Barbie movie at the Selfridges cinema. Earlier this year, she took her eco-conscious art to new heights by converting an empty shop space in Folkestone's Creative Quarter into a pioneering pop-up recycled florist shop, featuring over 600 handmade flowers. The spectacle garnered media attention, including a feature on ITV Meridian News.
A Cordwainers College, London College of Fashion alumna with a degree in footwear design, Aimee boasts over 15 years of experience in fashion footwear and accessories. Balancing her ongoing commitment to part-time design work with her recycled flower endeavors, Aimee exemplifies a harmonious blend of artistic innovation and environmental consciousness.
Elle Tennyson
Elle, a visionary artist, specializes in the captivating fusion of ink and bleach, unraveling surreal tales inspired by world mythology. Her unique narrative weaves together diverse elements, with the recurring motif of koi swimming through murky ponds, broken apart and sealed together with gold, stitched onto kimonos, or carrying warriors in defense of its waters.
Elle graduated from Ravensbourne College with a First Class BA Hons in Art & Design. She went on to work in various positions in the fashion industry before transferring her graphic design experience to work for film and TV as part of the art department. Since the pandemic, Elle has been applying herself to her art practice, exhibiting pieces at the St Georges Arts Centre and most recently participating at The London Illustration Fair 2023.
Adrian Wilde
In the heart of the Wildewood resides Adrian, a dreamer with fingertips adorned in ink, he etches and weaves enchanting tales across the landscape of the page. Immersed in the myths and legends intricately woven into the British Isles, his creations exude whimsy and magic, often bringing to life the creatures of the enchanted forest enveloping his studio.
Though now a resident of Gravesend, Adrian's roots trace back to a childhood in Cornwall, where the rich folk tales and a pervasive sense of wonder continue to course through his veins. Drawing inspiration from this mystical landscape, he channels its essence into his watercolour illustrations, capturing the spirit of the land and its heroes. The narratives within his works not only feature mythical protagonists but also showcase the integral role of plants and small creatures, reflecting the symbiotic relationship between the tales and the natural world.