Our patron

Here's a little information about Rachel...

Rachel Gadsden is a multi-award winning artist who has a BA and MA in Fine Art; she was artist for Hampton Court Palace 2008 - 2009, and has undertaken 4 major commissions for UK Parliament (2009 – 2015). London 2012 Cultural Olympiad commissions followed - Unlimited Global Alchemy and Starting Line.

In 2013 Gadsden represented the UK, creating “This Breathing World” for Qatar – UK Year of Culture 2013, for British Council and Qatari Government, HRH Prince Charles formally opened the exhibition. Further 2013 commissions included Talking Souls with BC South Africa & Cube of Curiosity with Marc Brew for Liberty Festival.

In 2014 Gadsden created a digital artwork for the Sochi, Winter Paralympic Torch Lighting. Gadsden also embarked on Al Noor ~ Fragile Vision, a multi-cultural collaborative UK and Middle East project and she recently completed 14 Stations of the Cross paintings for St Joseph's Cathedral, Abu Dhabi.

2015 commissions have included The Four Fridas for GDIF, Almanda for Freewheelers Theatre and Media and ILHAM exhibition and conference at MIA, Qatar.

In 2016 Gadsden was awarded an Artist international Development Fund Award and an a-n Travel Bursary to go to Palestine and has been appointed lead artist for the Lighting of the Rio Paralympic Torch Festival at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

Gadsden was awarded the National Diversity Award 2013: Positive Role Model for Disability was shortlisted for the European Diversity Awards, Hero of the Year 2014 and won Breakthrough UK - National Independent Living Award "Influencing disabled people's participation in society".