Behind every independent enterprise, creative studio, and local artist in the Surrey Hills is a person with a story, a passion and a deep connection to this extraordinary landscape. This month, we celebrate some of the inspiring individuals shaping our community.
Inspired by Nature
The women helping others reconnect with nature, movement, and wellbeing.
Joyful Outdoors
Elspeth has designed warm, welcoming outdoor experiences to bring people back to nature and rediscover simple joy. Through gentle foraging walks, bushcraft, laughter yoga, and mindful time in the woods, she creates space for people to slow down, connect with others, and feel more grounded in the natural world. Her sessions are relaxed, playful, and uplifting, with a focus on wellbeing, connection, and joy in the outdoors.
Surrey Striders
Passionate advocate for outdoor fitness and wellbeing in the Surrey Hills, Vicky is an accredited instructor offering guided Nordic Walking sessions that help people of all ages and abilities get active in nature. She strongly believes in the many benefits that Nordic Walking can offer, both physically and mentally, and wants to share that feeling with everyone!
Sue Llewellyn, a former BBC journalist retrained as a Qigong instructor after experiencing burnout and seeking a more balanced way of life. Sue now teaches gentle, flowing Qigong sessions, combining breath, movement, and mindfulness to help people reduce stress, restore energy, and reconnect with themselves and nature. Her approach is calm, accessible, and rooted in both ancient Chinese practice and lived experience of wellbeing and recovery.
With over 15 years’ experience in energy therapies, Amanda offers intuitive wellbeing sessions designed to support balance, clarity, and emotional release. Her approach focuses on helping people move through stress, emotional blocks, and life challenges by reconnecting with their natural sense of calm and wellbeing.
Lisa leads immersive forest bathing experiences inspired by the Japanese tradition of shinrin-yoku.
Through gentle, guided sessions in nature, Lisa encourages people to slow down, reconnect with their senses, and experience the calming benefits of the forest. Her work focuses on wellbeing, mindfulness, and helping people reduce stress through time spent in natural surroundings.
🌿Tip: These experiences aren’t about performance or doing it “right”, the benefit comes from switching off autopilot, noticing your senses, and letting the landscape do the work. A walk, a breath, a pause in the trees is often more powerful than it sounds!
Made by Hand & Heart
The artists, designers and makers keeping craftsmanship alive in the Surrey Hills.
As a local artist, sculptor and wellbeing practitioner Ruth’s work is deeply inspired by the natural world. Working from her woodland studio, she creates expressive wood sculptures, pyrography art and mixed media pieces using locally sourced materials and traditional techniques. and also runs creative workshops, retreats and yoga experiences.
Award-winning artisan food producer, creating bold, flavour-packed sauces, condiments and preserves inspired by traditional Filipino recipes. Founded by Roni Bandong, the business combines heritage, creativity and high-quality ingredients to produce small-batch products that bring vibrant, authentic flavours into everyday cooking.
With nearly 40 years of experience, Amanda is a highly skilled stained glass artist passionate about preserving the traditional craftsmanship of medieval stained glass. Working from her Surrey Hills workshop, she creates bespoke pieces for homes, businesses and places of worship, combining time-honoured techniques with exceptional artistry and attention to detail. Her work reflects a deep respect for heritage, craftsmanship and the enduring beauty of handmade design.
Gianna creates expressive, contemporary artworks inspired by nature, colour and emotion. Working across a range of mediums, she produces original paintings and bespoke pieces designed to bring vibrancy and individuality into any space, all beautifully framed by her husband Kevin.
Jack Kerr is a talented young blacksmith and fabricator whose passion for traditional metalworking began at just 10 years old. Based in the Surrey Hills, he creates everything from handcrafted Japanese kitchen knives and garden pieces to bespoke gates and large-scale commissions, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern creativity. As one of the few traditional blacksmiths working locally today, Jack is helping keep this historic rural craft alive for a new generation.
Originally trained in fashion design at Central Saint Martins, Nicky Chubb is a mixed media artist whose uplifting work is inspired by colour, light and the changing landscapes around her home in the Surrey Hills. Her distinctive tree paintings, vibrant florals and expressive figurative pieces combine collage, texture and layered materials to create artwork full of movement, optimism and emotion.
Kate Lloyd creates luxurious silk scarves from her own original photographs, transforming fine art imagery into elegant, wearable pieces. Based in the Surrey Hills, she works with a long-established family silk mill in England to produce beautifully printed scarves, each carefully designed to capture moments from nature, landscapes and travel in rich, expressive detail.
Nicola sources unique pieces from markets in the UK and France – sofas, cabinets, tables, and chairs- and transforms them into bold, one-off designs using traditional upholstery and restoration techniques. Her work blends craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic, giving old furniture a new lease of life.
Joseph Kennedy started making rustic wooden gifts from fallen wood at just 13. Now a small workshop business creating bespoke handmade pieces for homes and local clients, and in 2023 received the Surrey Hills Enterprises “Young Entrepreneur Award” in recognition of his craftsmanship, sustainability, and entrepreneurial drive.
🎨Tip: Look out for local artisans and independent makers at markets, studios, or small workshops. Buying directly from them not only gets you something truly unique, but also helps keep traditional skills alive and supports sustainable, community-based creativity.
Driven by Passion
Founder-led businesses built on expertise, relationships and trusted local knowledge.
Martin helps founders, consultants and creatives look credible and confident through relaxed, natural portrait photography designed to reflect who they really are on a good day. His sessions are guided and approachable, focused on removing awkwardness and capturing authentic, professional images that work across websites, social media, and press.
Helen founded her specialist personal injury law firm dedicated to helping people injured at work and their families secure justice.
With over 25 years’ experience, she focuses on complex, high-value cases, including serious brain and spinal injuries, often where liability is disputed. Her commitment is rooted in a strong family legacy of campaigning for safer working conditions.
With over 30 years’ experience across global corporations, SMEs, and consulting projects, Phil mentors business owners and helps them turn complex challenges into clear strategy and practical action. His work focuses on leadership development, business growth, and helping people move from feeling stuck to making measurable progress.
Ian Jones is an experienced event producer and moderator with over 25 years in hospitality and events. Through Ide&s, he creates and moderates food and drink events, helping connect people with great food, brands, and producers. His work spans product launches, brand activations, employee engagement events, and festivals.
Originally from New Zealand and now based in Surrey, Tracy Hampton brings a strong background in IT and web development, alongside a clear focus on simplicity, sustainability, and honest communication. She specialises in creating WordPress websites and digital systems that are easy to use, easy to maintain, and designed to help clients be found online and win work