Since 2008 One Thoresby Street has operated as an artist led provider of affordable studios in Nottingham with a dynamic programme of studio resident initiated events and exhibitions. The new leadership looks forward to continuing the artist led collective approach which has provided such fertile ground for the organic growth of projects, galleries and collectives within the studios.
Outgoing co-founder and director Tristan Hessing is working to hand over the reins of OTS before moving on to develop his new venture ‘Future Makers’, in collaboration with Blueprint Regeneration. This will form an ambitious new open access creative maker facility for the East Midlands region.
About the New Directors
Ellen Angus began her studies at Chelsea College of Art, before moving to Sweden to complete an MA in Fine Art at Umeå Academy of Fine Art. During her time there, she travelled to Abisko (Arctic) for ‘Meetings Between Art and Science’ with The Royal Academy of Art Stockholm. Upon graduation she was awarded the Kungl Skytteanska Samfundet Prize and the Verkligheten Prize for her show Keep Calm and Carry On Hackney. Since 2018 Ellen has held a studio at OTS and lived and worked between Nottingham and Sweden as a guest lecturer and artist. Upcoming and recent solo exhibitions include A Brexit No I Mean A Break Up, Växjö Konsthall (2019) and Cater 2 U, at Four/Four, Nottingham (2021).
Freddy Griffiths studied BA Photography at Falmouth School of Art and MA Contemporary Dialogues at University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Since 2012 Freddy has lived and worked in Nottingham, joining OTS in 2017. In 2020 he was the recipient of the inaugural Photoworks X Ampersand residency at Wigwell Lodge in the Peak District. Freddy is interested in using the photographic image to further non-hierarchical methodologies in contemporary art and everyday scenarios. Alongside his artistic practice Freddy has worked within the Museums and Galleries sector for the last ten years.
Sophie Mackfall studied BA Painting and Printmaking at Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow and MA Painting at the Royal College of Art, London. From 2018-2019 Sophie was the New Contemporaries Studio Bursary holder at OTS; on completion of the bursary she made Nottingham her base, taking on a studio at OTS. From 2009-2011 she was a committee member of Transmission, an artist-run gallery in Glasgow. Previous exhibitions include Y Shaped Strokes, OTS,This Shall Be For a Bond Between Us, Art Night Open, London, WHAT YOU DO, I LIKE, Hospitalfield, Arbroath, The London Open, Whitechapel Gallery, London.
Tristan Hessing and the History of One Thoresby Street
Tristan Hessing is a cultural producer who studied BA Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University. After graduating in 2004 he co-founded Stand Assembly, which in 2008 started trading as One Thoresby Street. Tristan also co-founded & co-directed Moot, an exhibition and project space within Stand Assembly (2005-2010). In 2014 Tristan began specialising in project management, consultation, custom fabrication and technical facilitation working with institutions such as V&A, Southbank Centre, Magnum Photography, and Korean Culture Centre.
In 2015 Tristan became a co-director of New Midland Group, a consortium of artist-led organisations, Backlit, One Thoresby Street and Primary, working in partnership to develop contemporary visual art in Nottingham.
