Trustees

New Brewery Arts is supported by our Honorary Patron, and is guided by our Board of Trustees.

HONORARY PATRON: DAME FIONA REYNOLDS DBE, MA, MPHIL

Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE is the current High Sheriff of Gloucestershire. She is also Chair of the Royal Agricultural University Governing Council. Her previous role was as Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 2012 where she served from 2012-2021. She joined Emmanuel after a long career in the voluntary sector, latterly as Director-General of the National Trust from 2001-2012. During her time as DG she made the Trust warmer and more welcoming, bringing the houses to life and raising the profile of the Trust’s work in the countryside. 

Before the Trust, she was Director of the Women’s Unit in the Cabinet Office (1998-2000), Director of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (now Campaign to Protect Rural England) from 1987-98 and Secretary to the Council for National Parks (now Campaign to Protect National Parks) from 1980-87. She read Geography and land Economy as an undergraduate at Cambridge University.

Fiona also holds a number of non-Executive roles. She is Chair of the National Audit Office, a Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, a Non-Executive Director of Wessex Water, a Trustee of the Green Alliance, and Chair of the International National Trusts Organisation, the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden and Cambridge University’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy. She was a Panel Member for the Glover Review of Protected Landscapes, Adviser to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission and a member of the Advisory Panel for the Dasgupta Review of the Economics of Biodiversity. 

JONATHAN RIXON (CHAIR OF TRUSTEES)

Jonathan is an Architect, and runs Cirencester based Rixon Architects, specialising in Cotswold bespoke buildings - be they zero carbon new buildings, or Listed historic restorations. They are based in the old Cirencester Town Railway Station, in the centre of Cirencester, which they recently restored as their base.

He has spent his life making—and often failing—which to him is an essential part of the process. During his architectural training, he worked on building sites to understand how buildings are constructed. This instilled a deep respect for skilled makers. He also enjoys commissioning others to create—whether that’s buildings, furniture, lighting, or objects. A passion for the made, in all its forms, has shaped both his professional life and personal interests. When travelling with his family, they actively seek out locally designed, innovative and home-grown work.

Jonathan brings his extensive experience and knowledge in running his own successful creative industry business, with parallel challenges shared with the New Brewery Arts.

GRACE DAVIES

Grace is Experiences and Partnerships Curator for National Trust. Prior to this she led National Trust’s programme of contemporary arts ‘Trust New Art’. She has also worked across the sector as Director of Visual Arts South West, Curator of Locws International in Swansea and on a number of curatorial projects, commissions and exhibitions both in the UK and internationally. She is currently undertaking a part-time collaborative doctorate exploring The Role of Contemporary Art in Addressing Missing and Marginalised Histories in Museum and Heritage Settings as part of the REACH consortium.

Joanna Noles

Joanna has worked in the charitable and non-profit sectors for over thirty years with a particular focus on grant-making but also including governance, strategic direction, widening participation and community engagement. She is now semi-retired and works on a part-time basis managing the Woodroffe Benton Foundation, a medium-sized grant-making trust. Having relocated to a village near Cirencester in 2003, Joanna has strong links with the local community and has volunteered for a number of local charities over the years. She is currently Vice-Chair of Trustees at another arts-focused, Cirencester-based charity, the Daniel Bingham Foundation.

Anita Longley

Anita is a sustainability professional with over thirty years experience at the heart of corporate and public sector decision making across the UK, Europe and India. A passionate advocate for collaboration and transparency she is currently Chair of the Scottish Power Foundation, a business advisor to the New Zealand Trade Enterprise and a mentor to sustainability professionals. She was formerly the Chair of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. A keen gardener and rambler, Anita is also a regular student at New Brewery Arts which she describes as 'a special place'.

JESS YARROW

Jess has lived in Cirencester for fifteen years and runs the new Cirencester History Festival. Previously she worked in book publishing. Jess believes creativity has an important role to play in positive social change. She loves walking, history, theatre, architecture, gardens and the visual arts.
She is a keen, if unreliable, sewer and knitter.

Paul Styles

Paul has been involved in working with charities for forty years, including several years as Chair of National Star College. He is actively involved with a wide range of charitable cultural organisations across Cirencester.

Chloe Mason

Chloe is a resident of Cirencester, with a background in Marketing and Project Management, she is a huge supporter of charitable organisations, social enterprise, and the arts. With vast experience working within charities and small business, she brings entrepreneurial spirit and an ambitious outlook to support local businesses in any way that brings community, creativity and people working together.

A full-time working parent, a self employed business advisor, an MBA student and a keen creative - she dabbles in dressmaking, leather working, drawing, painting and furniture up-cycling.

OUR TEAM

New Brewery Arts’ small staff team have a wealth of experience and all share a passion for craft and making. This team is supported by our Trustees, and works together with our on-site makers and tutors.  

opportunities

Want to join the team? We have a range of opportunities from voluntary roles, trustees, staff roles to studios.