Colombian visual artist and illustrator living in Essex, via Mexico and Suffolk, it’s a complicated story! She paints murals, creates digital illustrations, picture books and everything in between. Fine art and snobbery in art. Catalina blames her ADHD for ending up in Essex, she met an English man in Mexico who shared the same music taste (Josef K), and she decided to go on an adventure to Ipswich. Her experience in Ipswich ended up inspiring her artwork. It is hard to make a living from art in Colombia. In Mexico, Catalina funded her art and illustration studies by working in an advertising agency and also reviewing gigs. Catalina started getting freelance illustration commissions. And then onto bigger picture book commissions where she could be more experimental with styles. The difference between commercial and community mural projects. Window art - Big up Juliet Townsend and her amazing work! Catalina has two super powers - 1, being able to mix colours precisely. 2, being able to estimate measurements precisely like a Human Ruler. Is she a robot? Moving location, county, country means you have to start building a new network, and it can be tough. Finding your tribe. Looking for creative spaces locally. How is AI going to impact mural makers? Winter is brilliant for creative hibernation and getting loads of stuff done. Public art like murals and window art gives a sense of place against the commercial homogenisation of the high street. Catalina does a lot of visual work for the fun Essex band Dingus Khan. She’s also been getting crowds going wild on the dancefloor by DJing Colombian music in Colchester. ADHD, hyperfocus and being prolific as an artist. Pro tip: Don’t wear dungarees on a tour with a band, the dive bar toilets are not suitable! Being inspired by emotions and nature. Mind blowing - Essex wildlife is very exotic to a Colombian - big up the foxes!

Catalina's website

Catalina on Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Radio presenter for BBC Essex, event host and all round comedy man. A Romford boy gone Chelmsford. How do you say ‘Up and not crying’ in Icelandic? Sangita ACED her guess of what Rob does. Rob Jelly was born as Rob Jelly, it’s not a stage name! Rob hosts Nuclear Races in Kelvedon Hatch and gets the crowd pumped up for the event. He studied music tech at university and accidentally got into student radio. Student radio and hospital radio are great ways into the profession - put in the hours, practice and learn the craft. Talking about Sealand - the offshore platform on the coast of Essex. One of his first interviews was Essex rap, poetry, podcast legend Scroobius Pip. Don’t wait for permission to try something new, just go for it! Rob’s BBC show Upload tries to inspire people to be more creative in Essex. He gives a platform to creative people. Meeting other creatives is the best way to get creatively inspired. Unlocking creativity in people is massively rewarding. Talking about how the poet Ethan from Waxes Lyrical has thrived since joining a creative community. How to get people’s attention with a great email title - Shetland Pony Stuntman Backflip World Record. Faking creativity until you make it, in 4 days Rob went from zero to live video editing for the big screens at the o2 for Jingle Bell Ball. Writing wedding speeches in Japanese - Nick’s story - Japanese Borat. Rob tried to speak Danish once in an interview, which didn’t go well. ‘Slapped by Sandi Tokswig’ - this didn’t happen btw. The importance of finishing projects. Big up Will Ospreay! Rob is like the Essex Mr.Motivator getting the crowd hyped at Nuclear Races - in lycra at the top of a shipping container. He also writes comedy, poetry, stories - you can’t stop The Jelly. Reminiscing about former BBC Essex presenter Timbo who wore a foam elephant hat - Nick’s early comedy hero. Getting stuff stuck in bridges - the Chelmsford tradition. Swearing on the radio, not on Rob’s watch! Don’t worry about making mistakes or fluffing up lines, it’s going to happen, go with it. Tips for a great interview? In the history of bread, has more bread been fed to birds than has been turned to toast?

Rob on BBC Essex

Upload with Rob Jelly

Rob on Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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A man of many talents from ‘near Colchester’. Kip creates content around theme parks and technology, not both at the same time. Kip is proud of his honest reviews, he’s not ashamed to call out things that aren’t working. Creators have a responsibility where people will make decisions based on your content, so honesty is very important for respecting your audience. When Kip started there weren’t many theme park content creators, but now there are LOADS! Kip will go in as a normal punter and have an unbiased experience. Kip’s been blogging since 2008, which makes him an OG blogger. He was a ‘Daddy’ blogger, but has moved away from it now his children are older so they can have their own voice. Random fact - His number one blog ever was a review of Just For Men Control GX Shampoo. Can you trust influencers? Being offered nipple cream and incontinence pads as a parent blogger. Kip was on Gadget Man with Richard Ayoade reviewing self-folding buggies in Clissold Park, London. To create content you need to learn to write scripts, present, edit, camera man, social media coordination, PR, advertising - it’s constant and it’s hard work. Where can you learn all of these skills? Kip learned as he went. Kip never scripts his content, but has a good feel for what he wants to talk about, and then can always fix it with some edit magic. Committing and developing as you go along will see your skills grow. Making content that pleases the secret algorithms on social media platforms. Testing and optimising social media content. Turning your content side hustle into your main job. We love Meta Glasses! Making money from affiliate sales. Nick talks about going underwater at Loch Ness in a robot dolphin (true story). Big up Adventure Island in Southend. Nick declares Axis to be the greatest ride in Essex. Big up Pleasurewood Hills. Kip LOVES 13 at Alton Towers - the theming and experience is great and especially because it has an element of surprise - and that’s what makes a top tier ride. Talking about the very relaxing for autistic people Planet Coaster 2 computer game. Excitement about Universal Studios UK (near Essex). Is Woody Bear doing a Michael Jackson? Nick talks about hitting his head on the Zip World Mittal Orbit slide in Stratford. The podcast goes a bit crazy with Sangita’s new ride suggestion Euthanasia.

Kip on Insta

Kip on YouTube

Kip on TikTok

Kip's website

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Lord Shiva is in the building! Paul from the band Pieces has amazing arm tattoos for all of his passions. Born and raised in Chelmsford. Now he writes and sings for his British Indian punk band Pieces. They write songs about politics, race, the state of the nation. Paul decided to become more active and pokey with his lyrics - to not ignore what’s going on. 2025 has been a vintage year for political music with Kneecap, Bob Vylan, The Mary Wallopers, Mudrat, and Hyphen. Paul’s grandparents are from Guyana, they came to Essex in the Windrush generation, his Mum was born here, met a Welshman, and had a baby (Paul!). A lesson on indentured labour on sugar plantations. Talking about British Indian punk and rebellious music, Fun-Da-Mental, Asian Dub Foundation, Voodoo Queens. Dealing with racism and wanting to fit in by hiding your roots. Sangita reveals her secret identity. Dealing with the ‘Where are you really from?’ question. The recent rise of overt racism in the UK. Music and the music scene has given Paul the courage to be himself. Getting booked for Meff Fest. The trials of being in a band when you have adult responsibilities. Performing music as therapy, blocking out all your worries. Finding time and places to rehearse. Supporting Native James and Professor Green and getting a mosh pit going - someone lost their wedding ring. The importance of playing local grass roots venues when you are big. Big up Professor Green for coming through to play Hot Box! Ticking off your musical dreams. Taking kids to live music. Paul is manifesting playing at 2000 Trees festival. Paul talks about his sobriety journey - and has been in recovery for over 9 years - big up yaself mate! It’s a cheat code for life. The links between drugs and creative productivity and inspiration, is it a myth (Nick thinks so)? How drunk is too drunk to do a gig? Playing edgy music as an older person, and putting yourself out there. Helping others to recover.

Pieces on Insta
Pieces on YouTube

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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The Face of Chelmsford. The future mayor of the City. The future of creativity (FULL STOP). Rebecca described herself as multi-passionate when it comes to creativity. She hosts women’s circles - a safe space for people to turn up authentically and connect. She is part of Make Space for Girls - a project for creating specific spaces for girls to feel safe and belong - architecture for girls and women. Rebecca is a self taught creative. She wasn’t encouraged creatively at school, and left to get on with things herself, so had to discover her own outlets for her ideas. What was it like being the first generation growing up with phones in school. The ultimate distraction, changing how you communicate, and disconnect. Creativity can come from boredom, but with so much content and information to consume now, it’s hard to see any time as downtime. Removing outside influences to focus on purity of creative output. Rebecca’s theory about writing by hand leading to more creative satisfaction - it’s human nature. Nick does a bad Peppa Pig Oasis joke. Musical notation for non-musicians - vibe notation (with Matt Ashdown). Big up the teachers that spot creativity and encourage it. Rebecca has been commissioned by Chelmsford City Council to write a poem for a video piece about the city of Chelmsford. How to balance paid commissions with artistic freedom. Revisiting your work after some reflection time - when your ego can detach from the work. The selection process for the poetry commission, and first live performance as a poet. Rebecca learned to perform at a poetry rap workshop with some mentors and performed 6-months pregnant. Chelmsford fuchsia will be the colour of the year. Fun times making a video around the city for the poem. What rhymes with Chelmsford? Marconi’s equinox eclipse portal - is it in the Museum? Bringing together all the creative disciplines of a city to work together. What is a multipassionate multipotentialite - someone that doesn’t need to commit to just one thing creatively. Having different disciplines and projects keeps your creative mind sharp. Trying to remember poems to perform without a book or phone. Getting into freestyle rap. REBECCA IS THE CREATIVE FUTURE!

In Tune With Rebecca - IG

In Tune With Rebecca - Web

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Owen aka Project Lando aka Art of the Roadz. He’s got ADHD and the smoothest voice we’ve ever had on the podcast. He’s a music producer, radio host and he runs events. He runs workshops in Colchester for kids to learn about DJing and MCing with AC MC at The Minories, which isn’t a place you’d expect urban art. But the director of the gallery Emma Howe saw the potential to widen the gallery’s culture and bring in new visitors to the gallery. They ran Free Fest in the garden of the Minories on a beautiful outdoor stage that looked like it was built for a Shakespeare play - they had breakdancing (with Breakin’ Isaac), graffiti, MCing, DJing. Local 18-year old MC, Felc, played and helped curate the line-up. The importance of open minded venues to help young people put on shows. Sangita loved hearing bashment playing in Colchester! How it is important for groups to pave the way for future culture, and build on their successes. Out of struggle comes art. Hip hop is poetry, and there are loads of talented young rappers and beat makers from ‘the roads’. What’s the difference between hip hop and grime production? Making beats for free - using software like Fruityloops. Owen benefited from studying at a school in London with a recording studio - a rarity at the time - now anyone can record at home. Democratisation of music production through technology accessibility. Big up Jiim the rapper from Clacton who smashed it at Roadz. Owen started music at school playing cello, then drums, then discovered the early days of hip hop and DJing when his youth centre bought a pair of Technics decks. Then rave, hardcore and jungle took over his attention as DJ Rekle$$, through the clubs to pirate radio stations. The passion for DJing turned into a passion for production. After hundreds of hours on Atari STs, and a production course in Wandsworth - Project Lando was born! BBC Essex Introducing started playing his tunes. Is Owen hip hop Simon Cowell? Bypassing the gatekeepers in music. Finding your unique stories for lyrics. Keeping lyrics clean for the radio and public performances. If you want to get into music, practice, experiment, work hard, hone your craft, keep going - get a cheap laptop, software. Rappers can practice to royalty free beats on YouTube. Look for feedback! Big up the Essex rave scene. Big Narstie came to the Art of the Roadz show at Minories and invited all the MCs for a cypher. Owen is writing a jungle track posse cut to bring together MCs from different backgrounds to talk about unity.

Art of the Roadz IG
Art of the Roadz FB
Project Lando

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Live from Firstsite Colchester (the Golden Banana). Exhibition programme manager George is born and bred Bas Vegas (aka Basildon) from Laindon Hills. His family grew up in a self-built wooden shack in the Plotlands - which fitted closely into the themes of Michael Landy’s ‘Welcome to Essex’ exhibition, George’s first project at Firstsite. Firstsite has seen artists like Ai Weiwei, Anthony Gormley, Grayson Perry - and now George himself! It began with a bursary in 2020 talking to autistic people about what art meant to them. Which led to an open call for artworks about technology, which lead to this autobiographical exhibition ‘Voyager 2000: Worldbeing & Wonder?’ where George tells his life story through other people’s artwork. George was trapped in an uninspiring retail job, and managed to hustle his way into doing what he wanted - by pursuing art journalism to talk about ableism in queer spaces in Gay Times and then using social media to find art mentors. As a child George visited the National Gallery in between hospital appointments, and he studied painting for human emotion which helped him mask. Art is very relationship based, artists being recommended by other people. George would use dating sites to meet men that would teach him about art history. He is interested in changing the power dynamics in the artworld. Hanging exhibitions at different heights for accessibility. Balancing accessibility needs. He advocates engagement over preservation, and wants people to touch some artworks. Making smellable artworks. George came into art through the art therapy programme at Great Ormond Street Hospital when he was a child. He had his artwork shown at Turner Contemporary at Margate, and acquired by Southend Museum. How did George include the Grindr app colours into his exhibition. Why you should make friends with caretakers! Getting diagnosed as autistic. Talking about the Disability Pride flag. Fetishisation of the disabled body. How technology in Essex has gone from the invention of radio all the way to location services in Grindr? How did a Nintendo Wii-U make George burst out crying? Mixing established artists with emerging artists within an exhibition.

George Morl website

George on Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Lawker Media, at Firstsite Colchester, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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It’s National Cheeseburger Day and Sangita isn’t here, it’s the legend Adam on the co-host - He’s been at Rom Skatepark chucking coloured powder all over the kids for the end of skatepark summer season. Over to our guest… Jake ‘The Burgerman’ Willis plays guitar in hardcore band Raiden, and being in a heavy metal band makes you have bad hearing. Prank chat. Hat chat. Wait for it… BURGER CHAT! Jake was named after Jake’s Hamburgers in Ilford, his Dad loves burgers too. Jake likes his burgers simple! Quality ingredients. No fancy extras. A beef patty between two slices of bread. He cooked A LOT of burgers to learn how to do it well. A flat griddle on his hob upped the game. Then during COVID lockdown, he made burgers EVERYDAY! And then made too many burgers for his family, so started delivering to mates. Food drops are exciting. Nick remembers the Meat Wagon in London. Jake doesn’t want to ruin his creative passion for burgers by doing it full time. He loves the exclusive drop format. Eating burgers with a knife and fork! What makes a good burger bun? Getting the perfect bun transformed the whole burger product - the secret was potato. Matt Binge from Food Review Club gave Jake’s burgers an incredible score when he tried it. A lot of love for Big Macs. What would be in the ultimate Essex burger? What are the secrets to seasoning. Has Jake eaten 10000 burgers? We hear about Hamburger by Hepburn in Shenfield - a restaurant with a butchers - sounds amazing. Nick rates Devine Burgers at The Vine in Great Bardfield. Adam likes to put a Birdseye Potato Waffle in with his burger. The Sistine Chapel of Big Mac made by the gods which Jake had at Hawksmoor (not Essex!). Nick gets dreamy talking about Burger Bear at Old Street. Has anyone made an amazing veggie burger? Halo Burger! Is perfecting burgers like learning the guitar?

WillisyBurger Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
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 for their support