“The Minories Gallery felt like the creative hub of Colchester when I arrived with my husband Keith and young family in the mid 70’s. I began by opening an Arts and Craft shop in Fordstreet, Aldham, in our house which was an old Bakery.

Keith went on to become the Head of North Essex Schools of Art and we both spent many years teaching, me at Grey Friars and he at the Colchester Institute. And so, I am very grateful to Charlotte drawing me back to the Minories and our old town!

I have been very fortunate to have travelled extensively for work and pleasure. Performing community workshops and exhibitions. Such as in a paper making village in Obara Japan with the late Master Paper maker Mahito Ando, This was exhibited with a previous workshop I had done at Monks Close in Norfolk with Nick Samson. Both were shown at the Municipal Gallery in Toyota City.

In Gaborone, Botswana I performed a paper workshop with women from the HIV Hospice, and then as the Designer of the Tempest, I spent time in Malawi working with an African theatre company Bilimankhwe. I have drawn much inspiration from my travels. All of which has fed into my fascination with the mask.”

- Hazel Albarn