Barbara Touati-Evans

Hi I’m Kelly, a resin crafter (Resin Expectations), author (Beyond the Ordinary, Crafting in a Crisis, and Selling at Craft Events – A beginners Guide) and director of The Crafters Collective – Princes Mead Farnborough. As a female, neurodivergent, creative business owner, my mission is to help people be their authentic selves. Whether that’s with my creations – inspired by goth, fantasy and steampunk genres – or giving other crafters a space to sell their work, and express themselves through their creations, I want to make the benefits of creativity accessible to all. Crafting has been a focus throughout my life, whenever things have been difficult, and I want to share its mental health benefits with everyone.

I am a children’s playwright, poet and community creative writing facilitator. With fifteen years experience working in the sector, I have had multiple plays for primary school age children to perform published and have had works for children and families commissioned from theatres and arts organisations. My playwrighting focus is on inclusive history that is curriculum-adjacent or locally relevant and I’m particularly passionate about amplifying the stories of marginalised women and girls from the past. I work with schools and in the community delivering a range of bespoke workshops to young people, families and to those living with dementia and their carers.

I deliver learning, engagement, interpretation and digital comms. My website has examples of what I can deliver. I work in a couple of ways – Off-the-shelf – I have existing packages I can tweak to meet your needs if you’re looking for work around reminiscence, training or family workshops. Bespoke – if you’re looking for support with a project or new activity including exhibition text, trails, consultation etc. Coming from a land-based background, I have a particular interest in rural communities and issues around land-based occupations, community and heritage. I have a portfolio career made up of freelance work, a part-time job, and 3 part-time, freelance clients. #portfoliocareer #manyhats #freelance