Our Board of Trustees guide and inform our work at The Art House, all bringing their own experience and areas of expertise to the team, we’re extremely grateful for their time and commitment.
Dr. Adrian Brooks (Chair)
Adrian is an entrepreneur with a rich background in the live events industry. He founded several companies, including LiteStructures and Backstage Academy, and co-founded Production Park, a hub for live events innovation. Adrian’s achievements include creating the Astralite trussing system and launching the world’s first arena-sized rehearsal facility. He received an Honorary Doctorate in 2017 for his contributions to business and entertainment and continues to lead ventures in the live events industry.
John Curran BA, MBA
John is a business solutions expert with a focus on efficiency and revenue improvement. He has extensive experience in delivering complex projects in sectors such as entertainment, public services, and professional services. John has been Business Solutions Director at 4OC since 2013, and has provided organisational change support for public service organisations, including Capita and the NHS.
Dr. Andrew J. Langley
Andrew is an expert in architecture, design, and heritage, with a focus on community engagement. As a Project Conservation Officer, he promotes conservation and inclusion, while also contributing his academic research. His PhD focused on using participatory mapping to connect marginalized communities with their cultural identity. Andrew also works with The Prince’s Trust and oversees The Art House building.
Sally Roads
Sally is an experienced finance professional with a background in manufacturing, retail, fashion, and charity sectors. She excels at building relationships and providing financial insights that support budget management and securing multi-million-pound tenders. Currently a Finance Business Partner for a mental health organisation, she previously served as Head of Finance for Leeds 2023 Year of Culture. Passionate about the arts and its community benefits, Sally enjoys travel, interior design, yoga, and attending galleries, gigs, and theatre.
Tonye Ekine
Tonye is an artist based in Hackney Wick, London, who tells stories through colourful paintings and drawings. His artwork explores who we are, where we come from, and the things that bring people together. Tonye has exhibited in shows across the UK, including The Art House in 2025, and enjoys helping people connect with art.
Kedisha Coakley
Kedisha is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores Black female identity through sculpture, photography, and printmaking. Exploring social-historical stories and investigating ideas of home, memory, class, status, representation, and cultural affiliations, Kedisha’s practice challenges stereotypes and encourages new ways of seeing history and culture. Through her work, Kedisha creates spaces for conversation around how how art and imagery can change perspectives.
Jessica Taylor
Jessica Taylor is a Barbadian curator and producer based in London. She is Deputy Artistic Director at International Curators Forum (ICF), a visual arts charity dedicated to sector transformation, resourcing creative and cultural practitioners to build, and moving audiences towards, an industry that is equitable and inclusive.
Rebecca Turner
Rebecca Turner has expertise in operations, visitor experience and organisational leadership. As Operations Manager at the National Railway Museum, Rebecca leads teams across visitor experience and commercial operations. As Wakefield resident, Rebecca visited The Art House many times and decided to become a trustee to support our wider commitment to nurturing artists and providing accessible creative opportunities.
Dr Samantha Lukic-Scott
Samantha is an art historian skilled in community engagement. She currently works as Community Participation Manager at York Museums Trust, and is a Research Associate in the History of Art Department at the University of York. Her PhD focused on nineteenth-century art history, exploring how popular copies of famous paintings made by underrepresented makers were key to the formation of modern art history. Samantha’s research continues to incorporate a strong focus on underrepresented voices and communities from the eighteenth century through to today.
Jennifer Lynn Read
Jennie is Head of Operations at a Yorkshire-based technology company. She lives just outside Wakefield with her partner and two dogs and enjoys a range of creative pursuits. Jennie first discovered The Art House many years ago while attending a creative workshop and was inspired by The Art House’s commitment to supporting artists and making creativity accessible to all.