After studying Physics, Chemistry and Biology at A-level, I went on to Edinburgh University where I graduated with MA(hons) in Social Anthropology, specialising in how art and music shape the society in which we live.

I have always been involved in the arts, as a creator, performer, facilitator, manager and audience member, and am passionate about contributing to and engaging with the communities in which I have lived and worked.

On graduating in 1998, I went to work for a small performing arts company with a strong community programme which I had been involved in as a student, and following this, with both the International Festival and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.

I moved to London in 2000 to take up post graduate study in Cultural Management and have since worked in arts education and community engagement for the Arts Council, Lewisham EAZ, Cultural Co-operation, The Royal Festival Hall, and the Hackney Empire.

However, I'm no stranger to this area - my grandmother was the portrait photographer Helen Muspratt who lived and worked in Swanage from the 1920s. I'm thrilled that I have been given the opportunity to work on such an exciting and forward thinking project. I have been coming to the coast to visit my family several times a year all my life, and have always wanted to be able to get more closely involved in the community here. This coast has contributed to making me who I am.