Angela Reed, founder of Creative Calligraphy, is celebrating a big milestone this year: 10 years of running her own business. Her business journey started back in 2014, when she received start-up support from TEDCO. To celebrate 10 years of Creative Calligraphy, Angela has successfully applied to Arts Council England for a Project Grant that will help her put creativity and wellbeing at the heart of her anniversary plans.
Working with other organisations across South Tyneside and Sunderland, Angela plans to use celebrate calligraphy and other creative pursuits as a way to promote positive mental wellbeing, and highlight art as a therapeutic tool.
As part of the Calligraphy and Creative Wellbeing Project, Angela is working with South Shields-based Bright Futures North East, Age Concern South Tyneside, Arts 4 Wellbeing, and Women’s Health in South Tyneside, as well as Community opportunities in Sunderland.
Angela says,
“Creative Calligraphy offers a bespoke calligraphy service for a wide range of people, from those seeking a special gift for a loved one, to couples getting married, to corporate clients adding a personal touch to events.”
Through her business, Angela also runs two weekly calligraphy groups at Mortimer Community Centre in South Shields, and these will also benefit from the grant. Artists Kerry Cook, from The Art Room Sunderland, and Carrie Dennison, from Crafts for Wellbeing, will work with attendees to teach new skills alongside calligraphy, including metal embossing, lino printing, and watercolour.
This is the second time Angela has received an ACE Project Grant, with the last one being in 2022 to coincide with the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle. Calligraphy group members visited the exhibition and created their own responses to it.
This led to an exhibition that toured The Customs House in South Shields, 17Nineteen in Sunderland, and South Shields Museum and Art Gallery in 2023.
“I have harboured dreams of running my own business since taking Business Studies at school. I always thought: if you don’t try it, you’ll never know.”
Making it through the early days
Angela lives in South Shields with her husband and children. Despite a successful career in journalism, she set her sights on a more creative way of life. So, on 27th May 2014, she launched Creative Calligraphy.
Starting her business was made possible by start-up support received through TEDCO Business Support, as well as the New Enterprise Allowance and the North East Business and Innovation Centre in Sunderland.
Angela says,
“The support I received from TEDCO gave me everything I needed to get started, as well as the motivation to get Creative Calligraphy off the ground.”
Just 18 months later, Angerla was running workshops for The Cultural Spring in South Tyneside. Today, she classes throughout the North East both independently and for organisations like Newcastle Arts Centre, The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums.
Angela describes her “increasing interest in the positive impact calligraphy – and other creative experiences – can have on mental health and wellbeing.”
She says,
“I wanted to explore this further with a number of organisations I have been interested in working with for some time. I hope the Calligraphy and Creative Wellbeing project will introduce new audiences to calligraphy and lead to ongoing relationships with the organisations involved.”
TEDCO Business Advisor, Allison Nicks, adds:
“TEDCO prides itself on helping budding North East business owners find their feet and hit the ground running, so it’s wonderful to see Angela continue to go from strength to strength after receiving initial support from us 10 years ago. Creative Calligraphy is a unique and exciting organisation, and the Calligraphy and Creative Wellbeing Project is a fantastic way to highlight art’s therapeutic qualities throughout the region.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a decade of successful entrepreneurship, and I wish Angela many more years of creativity and innovation.”
To find out more about the current courses and funding opportunities available from TEDCO, click here. To find out more about Creative Calligraphy, visit their website by clicking here.