Meet the team
Rose Davies
I am Rosie Scribblah aka Rose Davies and I’m an artist, educator and blogger. I work directly from life, carrying a sketchbook at all times looking for any opportunity to have a scribble. Drawing underpins my art practice and I’m a printmaker and painter. I work on the streets of the city and out in nature; indoors and outdoors, bringing the practice of art directly to people who may never have been into a gallery or seen art being created.
I have spent many years in adult education, teaching art to different groups of people: the homeless; substance misusers; people with physical disabilities; those with learning difficulties and neurodivergence; people with poor mental health and many others. And I have worked in many kinds of communities to create art in the UK, the USA and Pakistan.
My qualifications include: Masters in Adult Education; National Diploma in Art; City & Guilds Horticulture; Certificate in Teaching Neurodivergent Adults.
My employers include: Crisis; Swansea University Department of Adult Continuing Education; Nacro UK; Drugscope UK.
‘I’ve been working with marginalised people for decades and I love the 9to90 approach. So many I have worked with were turned off the arts early on, but the warm, informal and friendly sessions offered by Jane and her team are attracting those who would not normally engage with a gallery, providing friendship and meaning as well as high quality teaching.”
Weixin Liu
I grew up in China, where my local community and neighbourhood were rich in folk arts, including paper cutting, brush making, and many other traditional crafts. From a young age, I was drawn to these creative activities and deeply admired the beauty and meaning behind these works. Inspired by these traditional art forms, I taught myself a wide range of creative practices and art techniques.
My academic background includes an MA in E-commerce, a BSc in Multimedia, and a PGCE. These qualifications broadened my perspective and helped me see the world in new ways. I enjoy using art as a way to explain, explore, and connect with the world around me.
After my children started school full-time, I was able to reconnect with my interests and hobbies in art. Since then, I have delivered many community art workshops aimed at supporting people’s health and wellbeing. I hope to continue using my skills, experience, and passion for community arts to support more organisations and communities, helping people to improve their wellbeing, confidence, and creative expression
Recent collaborations include; The Swansea Wellbeing, Mission Gallery, Volcano Theatre Swansea, Platform, the African Community Centre, the Chinese in Wales Association, and the Welsh Government. Through these experiences, I have developed strong skills in working with people of all ages, including adults with additional learning needs.
I was searching for something meaningful to do in Swansea that would help me improve my art skills, and that’s when I discovered the 9to90 Creative Community. From the very beginning, I fell in love with the craft sessions and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Not only did I develop my artistic abilities, but I also learned so many new skills — growing from a participant, to a volunteer, and eventually becoming a gallery manager supporting others on their creative journeys.
With the guidance of my amazing mentor, Jane, I have grown in every way — emotionally, physically, and creatively. This community has helped me become a stronger version of myself. Now, I am proud to be here, and I will continue to give back my skills, time, and support to the community that gave me so much.
Rachael Barry aka Ray Barry
I’m a mixed media community artist, builder, maker and educator. I specialize in willow and used and recycled materials. I can’t walk past a skip without diving in to see what treasures I can find. Nothing is ever wasted. I love working with people and helping them unlock creativity that they never knew they had. I work inside and outside with lots of people and organisations: substance misusers; dementia; homeless; people with learning difficulties and neurodivergence; multicultural groups and many more.
I’ve worked in many different communities such as council estate’s, inner city deprived areas and many community centres.
My focus lies in fostering connections among individuals, inspiring collaboration, and bringing communities together through my workshops. I aim to kindle creativity and create memorable shared experiences that strengthen our communities through art. My qualifications include HNC Architectural Glass, Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Certificate in Teaching Neurodiverse Adults.
I have a quarter of a century of experience in community and arts development. Including working with Crisis, Communities First, Swansea City Council (Arts and Culture) Welfare State International, Carmarthen Council (People Speak up), Schools.
Working with Jane and the 9 to 90 family has been a joy. Whatever you bring to their sessions, they take on the challenge. Everyone is so warm and welcoming to artists and members. I have seen their personalities and skills grow over the years.
I work with Crisis, the homeless charity, and this is such an excellent example of what this community needs. Offering members the chance to join a safe environment to be creative and socialise.
Menna Buss
Since my return to Swansea in 2015 – I left for London in 2000 – I’ve been working with communities around Swansea sharing a love of cloth and textiles practices. My creative journey started in theatre – following National Youth Theatre in Wales and London, I trained at Wimbledon School of Art in the wonderful world of costume design. Working as a costume supervisor, maker and dresser in London and Germany I learnt to adapt, fit and alter, handle fabrics and make from scratch. By far the best bit was collaboration.
After some time out, teaching English in India and South America, I qualified as an FE teacher – PGCE Art & Design Technology. Specialising in Textiles, I taught all levels of Secondary education to Foundation in Kent and London. I now lecture in Contextual Studies: BA Surface Pattern & Textiles and Design Crafts at Swansea College of Art.
As an associate artist to Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Learning Team since 2016, I have led ‘Threads’ community textiles group and collaborated with Artes Mundi to deliver public arts engagement opportunities. At local hospitals I have delivered textiles sessions for staff wellbeing and facilitated mentorship for Arts in Health practitioners. I have designed ambitious frameworks for community groups to respond with fabric and stitch – including a 20 sqm suspended quilt, a 3x3m kite, a giant soft sculpture dragon and a Welsh folk costume with 10 meter hem!
The skills I share with communities include natural dyeing, hand-embroidery, care and repair – craft that requires slowing down and connecting with processes and each other.
Recent partnerships: Museum of Wales, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Artes Mundi, Swansea Bay University Health Board, WAHWN.
“It’s a great honour to be part of the artist tutor team for 9to90. Being in the company of individuals who truly value community craft and creativity, who put this high on their agendas despite various life challenges, makes me remember why I’m a participatory artist. With 9to90, whatever the activity, community spirit is palpable – support and care is central and laughs are two a minute!”
Esther Ley
Having juggled full time employment, family and making art work for the past 20+ years, I have now decided to focus on my personal work as a ceramicist, maker and educator.
I have always worked in a collaborative manner; working together on art projects becomes a shared experience which gives participants a creative voice. Making art brings people together, stimulates conversations and promotes a sense of unity; Working in this way informs my personal practice and vice versa. I believe that artwork produced alongside others becomes greater than the sum of its parts and has the power to connect and resonates more strongly with the observer.
I have had the pleasure to share my love of creativity alongside many and varied members of society, including a large part of my career working with homeless or vulnerably housed individuals where I delivered and developed arts and crafts sessions and exhibitions to celebrate their work. My own work is eclectic and generally has a social commentary element. I explore themes using Raku firing, moulds, handbuilding methods, decals and lustres. I am fascinated with all things ceramic and constantly experimenting and trying out different methods which I enjoy passing on to 9-90 students!
My qualifications include a BA(Hons) in Ceramics, a PGCE (PCET) and Certificate in Teaching Neurodivergent Adults. Through my career I have undertaken regular and useful training in courses such as MHFA and ASIST, Inclusion and Diversity, Health and Safety and more.
My employers include Swansea University, Mess up the Mess, Swansea Carers Centre, Crisis The Glyn Vivian Gallery and Platfform.
Having worked with people from all walks of life, as an artist in the community, I can see that the 9-90 group is special. It’s a safe space for staff, volunteers and participants to come together to learn, create and enjoy. It’s not always an easy thing to manage a group with such varying abilities, needs and wants; Jane has assembled a trusted team to do just that with shared purpose, compassion and a love of the arts. I feel privileged to be part of this.
Kathryn Trussler
I’m Kat. I’ve been living and working in Swansea on and off since moving here from Hereford in 2012 to pursue a Master’s degree in Fine Art at Swansea College of Art. During my student years, I spent most of my time experimenting in the workshops—using as many facilities as possible and scavenging for materials across the surrounding urban and rural landscapes.
After completing my degree in 2016, I was welcomed into the brilliant artist community at Elysium Studios. While there, I took part in a wide range of group shows and exhibition opportunities, including the Swansea Open at the Glynn Vivian, the Botanical Gardens, Swansea Grand Theatre, and UNDEGUN Gallery in Wrexham. In 2017, I was thrilled to embark on a three-month artist residency with Elysium Gallery, which culminated in my first solo exhibition. This body of work was made almost entirely from found and donated materials.
I continued to work from an Elysium studio for many years—it became my haven, social hub, and the perfect place to hoard all the weird and wonderful “rubbish” that I love passionately reimagining. In 2018, I was delighted to work with Swansea College of Art as their Fine Art Artist in Residence, where I continued to expand my mixed media practice. My role included assisting workshop demonstrators, supporting students in realising their ideas, giving tours to prospective students and their families, and working collaboratively with fellow Artists in Residence on social media marketing.
I currently work at an independent cinema in the city centre, volunteer on a farmstead, and run my craft stall at makers’ markets and music festivals. These days, I work on a much smaller scale. Some of my recent interests include sea-glass soldering, reshaping litter-picked HDPE plastic, card making, and working with air-dry clay.
I received a grant from The Prince’s Trust to help start my own craft stall, Specialised Kat Tentacles, The Shop. I create a wide range of novelty wearable accessories, eco-friendly gifts, and seasonal décor. I’ve always loved painting my face for events, making costumes, and creating curious things. My inspiration comes from psychedelic music festivals, the materials themselves, and science fiction films.
Working with 9–90, alongside such a fantastic group of artists and attendees, has helped me slowly rebuild my confidence after a challenging few years. Outside of my practice, I enjoy exploring, camping, caring for animals, and—unsurprisingly—collecting things.