Our Team

(They/Them)

Ian is an abstract ‘outsider artist’ and former NHS specialist clinician who strongly believes in art and creativity as a route to improved health and wellbeing, interpersonal connection and social cohesion.

They support the concept of ‘art for all’ free from commercialism, rigid standards and elitism and have a particular interest in ancient concepts of art that focus on work of a human scale that can be integrated into everyday life. Ian coordinates the ‘Portable Art Collective’ in collaboration with other outsider artists and YAC volunteers.

Ian is a registered disabled person due to a combination or congenital and chronic conditions and as such supports the work of a number of self-advocacy groups to improve understanding and acceptance of complex needs across all sections of the local community.

As a long-standing member of the LGBTQI+ community Ian provides specialist advice related to mental health, neurodivergence and support strategies to a cross section of local organisations that support the gay and trans population of Cornwall.

Ians role as Associate Director at Your Art Connect is to provide advice and support to the organisation regarding mental health and associated issues. They also provide individualised structured supervision support for volunteers and other personnel in addition to providing direct input for various creative offers

Graham was the visionary behind Your Art Connect. He discovered his talent for oil painting during the pandemic. He also discovered that creativity helped his own mental health and well being which led him on a path of philanthropy to help others discover the same.

He now uses his art platform to start up wellness projects around the world promoting across YouTube, his Podcast and his social media channels.

Find out more about him and his social channels here.

Email directly at [email protected]

Siobhán is the quiet behind-the-scenes member of the team. Siobhan moved to Cornwall to study photography at Falmouth Uni in 2004 and has never left the southwest. Siobhan is a qualified Creative Counsellor working with 16 – 25 year olds and parents, combining her love of Art and her passion to support young people’s mental health.

The stars aligned and Siobhan met Graham and Marie at just the right time having just quit her day job in e-commerce to focus on the career change and the rest is history.

Email direct at [email protected]

Hey there. My name is Marie and I’m one of the Directors of Your Art Connect.

After completing my degree in art and design, specialising in animation, I moved to Cornwall where I had a whole range of jobs; from working with autistic adults to supporting people with poor mental health and addiction.

My passion has always been about working with young people with neurodevelopmental conditions and I specialise in working with those labelled with “behaviours that challenge”.

Your Art Connect was set up to help as many young people as possible, whether they are disabled, neurodivergent or neurotypical, through the fantastic therapeutic medium of art.

I love what we do; having a passion for engaging with young people that others struggle to reach is a fantastic thing and we hope to take Your Art Connect to as many places as possible.

Email directly [email protected]

Hello, my name is Lanna AKA Queen Of Light! I am a volunteer here at the wonderful Your Art Connect and I am on a mission to heal as many people across the world through art and different therapies. I want to make sure art is accessible for everyone and that people know there are safe places to heal, grow and get creative. I am a qualified therapist specialising in NLP and Hypnotherapy and I also am a conscious artist myself creating paintings and music. I love spreading my therapy and healing knowledge through these mediums also. I love doing childhood trauma release work through art as another form of therapy. By letting your most child-like, vulnerable, innocent and adolescent self be present whilst getting creative, I believe it can help you connect to that version of yourself and allow you to heal and move through childhood trauma more smoothly. The music I also create is deeply influenced by my personal healing journey, I try to tell my story to let the world know it isn’t what you’ve been through its how you grow through it, you truly can do anything in this life if you trust and truly believe. I feel I am my own evidence of that! I want every single living being to always follow their dreams no matter what:)

Hi I’m Connor, I have a background in professional performance from a young age, holding LAMDA qualifications and experience both on stage and in TV auditions. However, my real passion lies in coaching and developing others in their craft. I’ve been teaching for years, previously with Refresh Performing Arts in Bolton, where I not only ran acting classes but also wrote and directed our annual productions and designed summer schools based on musicals like The Lion King, The Greatest Showman, and Mamma Mia.

Beyond performing arts, I’ve worked in various roles supporting young people, helping them grow in confidence, develop key life skills, and find their voice—whether that’s on stage or in everyday life. I believe in creating a space where young people feel seen, valued, and encouraged to push their creative boundaries.

I’ve had the privilege of seeing my students go on to great things—including one who played Simba in The Lion King on the West End (2021-2022) and others who have landed roles in theatre and commercials.

I have a background of working for many years in the care industry with almost all needs and ages. I have worked in specialist care homes, nursery schools, mental health settings, in the community and privately as a 1-2-1. Due to my own health being challenging, I moved away from hands-on care work, to studying Contemporary Creative Practice (posh way of saying a mixed art degree, where the methods of making art overlap into one project) and 10 years later had the courage to admit I am an artist! I find painting therapeutic and love interior design, bold colours and adding texture. I wanted to find a way to reconnect with the local community as an artist and help people, so I felt fulfilled.

I recently came across Your Art Connect due to attending the adult art club. It provided an inclusive space to make a mess without the guilt and through chatting to other volunteers there, I have started to learn more about my own neurodivergent ways of navigating the world. Ultimately, it’s the first time I’ve felt normal in my weirdness, understood and seen. I recommend everyone comes along and experiences the fun and the warmth of the lovely people. It’s beautiful! I’m so happy to be a part of it and to be able to lend a hand too.