Film-maker, Marley lives on a three acre farm, designs permaculture, and specialises in community supported agriculture (CSA). Marley also co-runs a community cooperative cafe in Colchester. He’s been commissioned by Culture Essex to make a film for Extraordinary Essex with the working title ‘Don’t Fight The Land That Feeds You’ about the people of Essex and the land that nourishes them. Marley is interviewing people ranging from farmers with hectares of land to small growers with allotments. In CSA people can pay a share towards harvest by subscribing to seasonal veg boxes, or volunteer on the farm in exchange for produce. Nick’s had enough of chervil and celeriac in his OddBox! Importance of diversity in crops and seasonality in food. Community Growing Spaces in Essex for people with mental health issues, feeling the therapeutic benefits of working outside and eating the food they produce. When Marley grew up he concentrated on sports and football, not creativity. Creative subjects at school didn’t interest him. But then he started using his friend Drew’s camera and making edits, and making beats with his brother, and fell in love with creativity. Turning making films as a hobby into paid commissions. Getting young people out of towns and cities to expose them to rural Essex and growing food. Creating a community buzz on the farm with volunteers and group events. Shout out to Essex Salad WhatsApp group! Applying for funding. Permaculture is designing agriculture for the future. Colchester creativity is bubbling up right now. Marley’s wife Laura run Wyrd Flora, organising wild craft and nature walks. How long would Sangita survive in a post-apocalyptic scenario? Tips for young people getting into film-making - start with what you’ve got, then level up. Marley’s film will premiere at The Commons Cafe in Colchester in March 2025. Nick reveals that Chelmsford Museum have a stuffed bear to warn real bears away from their honey.

Culture Essex - Extraordinary Essex
Cuckoo Farm Studios
Wyrd Flora

Are You Creative? backup was recorded by Marley (thanks!) at City Sound Chelmsford
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Jon manages Hot Box in Chelmsford. An independent community venue for music, poetry, chess, comedy, drag, retro gaming and other things. At a small venue everyone has to muck in and do all the jobs. Venue is 110 capacity, but has seen huge acts like Fat Boy Slim, Frank Turner, High Fade, The Meffs, Beans on Toast, Native James. Norman Cook has come back to DJ many times, and once to help raise funds to save the venue. Venues and events make memories for the staff and crowd. How starting a new venue fired up a creative community in the city. Hot Box started as a ‘head shop’ selling smoking paraphernalia, then diversified into being a skateboard shop, then evolving into a multi-use shop and venue, then into a pure venue. Hot Box became a Community Interest Company (CIC). Providing space for communities, helping communities build, supporting young people. Filling Hot Box with 100,000 balls for a charity gig for Angus. How important it is to have places to support creative projects and let people experiment. Electronic Music Open Mic (EMOM) nights where electronic music artists can play their music through the professional sound system at Hot Box. How dominos has caught on in the venue. How superstars Squarepusher and Adam Buxton collaborated on a fundraising single about Shorts to raise money for the venue after COVID. Creating a community space that is also a sustainable business. Training young people on how to promote a gig, mix sound, set up and control lighting. Being transparent with the costs and numbers for promoters and ensuring people get paid fairly. Being on a mission to make Chelmsford cooler! Petition to make a statue of Dave Hot Box with a cup of tea and shorts. Organising the multi-venue Sounds Good festival event and working with multiple partners and volunteers from different sectors. Filling in funding applications. Booking bands for events. All about High Fade Band and why they always kill it at Hot Box! Jon played bass in a band and played at Brixton Academy when he was 15 - supporting Chelmsford’s finest Rat Boy. Country music is popping off in Essex. Being the president of the Ignite Creative Partnership in Chelmsford - Jon is a BIG DEAL! Fair pay for creatives initiative. The economics of playing live music. Music Venue Trust and Kate Nash and their amazing work.

Hot Box Live
Sounds Good Festival
Music Venue Trust

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam from Lawker Media at Lawker Media Studio
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Figurative drawing. With special guest co-host Adam Whitaker. Nat’s collection of art ‘An Untamed Line’ is currently exhibited on Chelmsford Museum’s Gallery Wall. She makes a rough shape on paper with water and then inks in the figure. How does life drawing online differ from drawing from a photo? And how short time limits lead to the best art? Sixty second drawings have a lot of energy. Ink never behaves the same way, so the art can be unpredictable. Imposter syndrome in art and judging your own output. Life drawing tips. Moving your eye as little as possible between the model and the paper. Learning anatomy at Oxford Ruskin. Drawing skeletons. Are plastic skeletons cheaper than real skeletons? Drawing dead human bodies in the medical school. GRUNDON BINS! You might hear more about these… Lucky dip in the Grundon looking for body parts. Exams wearing robes at Oxford drawing skeletons and muscle groups. Deciding to study art, and realising that it is what you want to do as a career. Constant development and improvement in style and ability. What do life models think about while they are posing? Talking about Body Worlds and donating your body to art or science. Can you create your own education and pick your own tutors? Natalie teaches figurative drawing and has a studio in Hyland’s House in Chelmsford. Tips for drawing faces. Winning a skeleton. We need a name for Nat’s skeleton! Making a living as an artist is tough, Natalie also has to do graphic design and illustration to earn money.

Nat's website
Artists at the Meadows
Nat on Instagram
An Untamed Line at Chelmsford Museum

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam from Lawker Media at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK