Our Trustees
Some of our trustees have been with Artventure for many years, some joined only a year or two ago. New trustees are always welcome; we like having new ideas coming in and we like having a range of ages, experiences and skills on the Board.
If you want to support us in this way, and get a buzz from helping to run a small, successful and caring organisation – please get in touch.
Robert Muir
Chairman
Robert spent over 30 years as a senior manager in the Petrochemicals industry. In 2005 he co-founded a company called Ancon, that uses nanotechnology to detect very small concentrations of semi volatile chemicals in the air, with applications in air pollution monitoring, airport security and medical diagnostics. He remains a major shareholder and the managing director of this company. Robert has three children and 4 granddaughters. One son and two grand daughters live in Thames Ditton, a second son (and two granddaughters) in New York, and his daughter in Hong Kong. Robert joined the trustees of Artventure in 2004, helping to raise Big Lottery funds to establish the arts centre. Artventure is a special place, with staff volunteers and users belonging to a family. Some of the work done by our users is outstanding, and he is very proud of how Artventure brings out the best in everyone.
Ann-Marie North
Anne has been involved with Artventure for over 20 years. From early in 1998 initially as an art-worker, and for the last eight years as Manager until retirement in 2016. Since then she has volunteered as an art-worker on several occasions. Anne graduated from The University of Creative Arts in 1997 with a B.A. Hons in Fine Art. Then she began working through the charities Artventure and Creative Response alongside adults with learning difficulties and mental health problems. After completing a 16 plus teaching qualification she ran art classes at Guildford College. Shortly after joining Artventure, along with the Trustees, she was very involved with gaining of large National Lottery grant to enable the construction of our new building and with the relaunch of the charity and its new facilities and better accessibility. Anne is still a practising artist and enjoys helping people express themselves through creative arts.
Paul Charlesworth
Paul’s background is in management consultancy, where he operated at board level in an international organisation performing major contracts with blue chip companies and central government bodies. His early career was in academic research and teaching at tertiary level. Paul has worked with charities that support disadvantaged groups for over twenty years and has a special interest in learning disabilities. He became a Trustee of Artventure in 2015.
Sue Cundell
Sue is an educational consultant, now semi-retired, following teaching and management roles in the post-16 sector. She brings to Artventure the knowledge and skills gained from her work in colleges, universities, as a member of a county advisory service, and training as an Ofsted Inspector. Her work has included project management, staff development, research, reports, articles, and quality assurance. Sue also brings experience from the art world, having trained in the visual arts, particularly sculpture. She has been chair of Surrey Sculpture Society, managed art exhibitions and still has a keen interest in the arts.
Philip Trumble
Caroline Breckell
Caroline is Deputy Clerk to the Surrey Lieutenancy, supporting the Lord-Lieutenant to fulfil his duties, arranging the programmes for Royal Visits to organisations in the county and assisting with Honours and Garden Party nominations, managing the Surrey Lieutenancy website and social media accounts.
Caroline is a member of six Lieutenancy Groups, Communications, Honours, Business, Arts & Culture, Charities & Communities and Climate Change and is the Coordinator of and an assessor for the Surrey King’s Award for Voluntary Service Panel.
A Company Secretary by profession, Caroline has been Under Sheriff of Surrey since 2008 and for 30 years she led on the civic function for Surrey County Council. She was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 2011.
Caroline is a Patron of Challengers, HomeStart Guildford and a Vice-President of Surrey Clubs for Young People. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Civic Officers and a Freeman of the City of London.
Chris Dubois
Chris’ career was in IT and business services, travelling a lot, before retiring. Always enthusiastic about the arts, he has volunteered in community arts organisations for a long time. Having worked with Artventure Trust in recent years, he decided he wanted to join the Board, become a trustee, and contribute his skills.
Apart from volunteering Chris’ interests are the family, theatre, music, opera, the arts in general, walking, and learning languages.