Anna Nightingale

Anna Nightingale is a contemporary abstract expressionist painter who currently resides between her studios in London and the Mediterranean island of Gozo. She has been applauded as a ‘sorceress cartographer’ who presents her most intimate stories and experiences through paintings that inspire, astonish and enchant.

Born and raised in the rural parts of Cheshire, North West England, Anna left home aged twenty to complete a Masters in Fine Art at Central St Martins. On graduation, life brought her to the frequently sun-drenched and archaeologically rich island of Gozo, where the warm reds, oranges and tranquil, calming blues contrasted remarkably with the closed grey skies of England.

However, Anna’s love for the variance that these two locations provided meant she would go on to split her time between both. The influences of both London and Gozo echo throughout her paintings; the sumptuous colours of Gozo (from the panaramic skies and sunsets to the craggy rocks and clear blue sea) are sublimely recalled, whilst the cultural vibrancy of London can also be felt in their atmospheres and subplots. Each of Anna’s paintings encourages the viewer to embark on a spirited and passionate journey that intimately mirrors the depths of the artist herself. In this respect, her paintings can aptly be described as ‘lanterns of the soul’.

Inspired by legends such as Rothko and Whistler, Anna’s skilful layering of powerful colours in oils and ink has led to her enjoying over twenty successful international exhibitions. Please visit her website for details of upcoming exhibitions. http://www.annanightingale.com

Roxy Rawson

“Roxy Rawson knows how to bewitch a crowd. The classically- trained musician has been bringing her unique blend of impish violin vocals to the London gig scene for a few years. Her music is beautifully peculiar; a sweet mix of classical notes and frenzied, catch-me-if-you-can lyrics interspersed with bursts of laughter. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and is original to the point of raising eyebrows; comparisons to the likes of Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor are beginning to emerge. With each show, the applause gets louder and her name gets bigger.” Independent On Sunday

Having been raised in a Mormon community in Hitchin, trained in piano and violin at a Paris conservatoire, self tutored in singing ‘jumping intervals’ and ‘jazz standards’ and then joining an African Choir; it is unsurprising that Roxy Rawson’s idiosyncratic style of music is less than conventional and more than stimulating in it’s eccentricity and finesse.

Violin is at the basis of all of Roxy’s music; on it she plays multiple parts. She is the rhythm section plucking at strings and ring finger tapping the body in time to her percussive vocal delivery. She strums the violin like a ukulele and uses household objects such as biros in place of a bow to create a unique backing track to her vocals and pop inspired melodies. Laughter, humming and scatting garnish this delicious gumbo of sound.
Roxy has already been championed by the Independent on Sunday as the UK’s answer to Regina Spektor and her inimitable warmth and charm is discussed nearly as often as her fruity modus operandi.

http://www.roxyrawson.com or http://www.myspace.com/roxyrawson

Shazia Mirza

Internationally acclaimed comedian, presenter and writer from Birmingham.

“Her laconic one-liners represent something quite unique in modern comedy.”
William Cook, The Guardian

• Winner Columnist of the Year PPA Awards 2008
• Semi-finalist NBC’s Last Comic Standing 2008
• Winner GG2 Young Achiever of the Year Award 2003
• Winner Metro Magazines in association with Jongleurs Comedy Clubs People’s Choice Best Comic Award 2002
• Winner London Comedy Festival and Hackney Empire 2001
• Runner Up Birmingham Comedy Festival 2001

Television

• Last Comic Standing (NBC 2008)
• Splitting Cells -Broadcast sitcom pilot (BBC3 2007)
• F**K off I’m a Hairy Woman (BBC3 2007)
• Richard and Judy ( Channel 4 roving reporter 2007)
• 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (BBC3 2005)
• The World Stands Up (Paramount Comedy 2004)
• Stockholm Live (TV2 Sweden 2004)
• 60 Minutes (CBS 2004)
• Have I got News for You (BBC1)

Radio

• The Fred MacAulay Show (BBC Radio Scotland 2008)
• The Janice Forsyth Show (BBC Radio Scotland 2008)
• Women’s Hour (BBC Radio 4 2007)
• With Great Pleasure (BBC Radio 4 2005)

Live

• Pakistan- World Performing Arts Festival (2008)
• ‘Fun’-National Tour (2007)
• USA- San Francisco Herbst Theatre (2007)
• Switzerland- Arosa Comedy Festival (2007)
• India- Tour (2006)
• Sweden- National Tour (2006)
• Canada- Winnipeg Comedy Festival (CBC 2005)
• Holland- National Tour (2005)
• Canada- Halifax Comedy Festival (CBC 2004)
• Sweden- National Tour (2004)
• Also performed in Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Paris, Kosovo, Dubai, Luxembourg

Theatre

• 1001 Nights Now (2005- 2006) The National Theatre Tour. Produced by Northern Stage. Directed by Alan Lyddiard
• Vagina Monologues (2003) The Royal Albert Hall. Directed by Eve Ensler
• The Tribe of Beorma (2000- 2001) Women and Theatre Tour. Directed by Janice Connolly

http://www.shazia-mirza.com