Meet Mandy

Lover of colour, nature, texture, fabric, paper, patterns, trimmings, vintage, nostalgia, shiny stuff, bric-brac, bits’n bobs, what-nots and pruc. That covers just about most of it!!

I’m a mixed-media artist and maker based in Ballyholme, Bangor, Northern Ireland. Here I live with my husband and three kids (boys) and work from my quirky beachside studio locally referred to as the ‘rainbow house’.

It is the ever changing sea view that is a constant source of inspiration for my classes and creations and also where ‘sea treasures’ are found like pottery and glass to create items of loveliness to admire and/or buy.

It was 2000 when I graduated from Belfast Art College in ‘Printed Textiles’ working as a designer for a few years thereafter. But driven by a desire to ‘make a difference’ I re-trained and qualified in adult nursing in 2007 working in oncology and palliative care settings for the next twelve years.

In early January 2019 I had the vision to combine my creative and caring skills to establish a holistic business that cares for people holistically using creativity as the catalyst to do so. Completing a course in business, ‘MandyMakes’ was founded in Sept 2019 offering an after schools programme to kids in school and adult workshops from the studio. Post-covid MandyMakes is adapting and restructuring to comply with current recommendations and guidelines.

I am a registered child protection officer.

I am access NI cleared.

Business is insured.