The Team
The people behind Make it Better (Mitber) CIC
Executive Director – Ruth Purdy
I believe that art has the power to change the world and I set up Make it Better (mitber) CIC to increase engagement with creativity.
I studied Fine Art BA Hons and PGCE in Birmingham, followed by an MA in Photography at Falmouth. Before this I worked in further education and in schools delivering arts education to a wide variety of neurotypical and neurodiverse learners; working closely with speech, language and occupational therapists.
I am always excited to see the unique way individuals respond to and communicate through creative processes. For over ten years I have worked in local communities around Cornwall, demonstrating how regular contact with fun creative activities can improve people lives.
Director – Sharon Baker
Independently of her work at Mitber, Sharon has a long career as a freelance arts educator/facilitator and engages in her own art practice as a printmaker. She exhibits her work in the UK, including in the House of Commons, and has exhibited internationally. 2019 she was the first prize winner of the Westmorland Landscape Prize and was awarded the St Cuthbert’s Mill Prize at the Derby Print Open. Sharon gained a BA Honours degree in Fine Art at the University of Wolverhampton and her Master of Arts in Fine Art from Coventry University.
Director – Vanessa Harbar
Vanessa is a cultural heritage leader and facilitator who has worked across a wide range of museums, trusts, funding bodies and government agencies. Also a practicing yoga guide with a strong interest in wellbeing within and beyond the workplace. Vanessa loves using crafts and creative activities for fun and inspiration.
Vanessa holds an MA in Historic Environment Conservation and is currently Head of Culture at The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Director – Peter Doubleday
Director Peter Doubleday is an artist specializing in photography and printmaking. Originally training as painter he has a BA(Hons) in Fine Art an MA in Photography and the PGCHE teaching qualification for Higher Education. Peter lives in Redruth and is engaged with local cultural initiatives.
His work has been shown internationally and is regularly accepted into the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the Royal West of England Academy Annual Open Exhibition.
Director – Phil Blease
Started life as a time served Engineering apprentice and after a engineering career in the South East moved to Cornwall in 1990. A career change occurred based on his experience in sales and marketing and he became a Financial Advisor. Phil’s career progressed over 20 years and he retired in 2013 from his position as Chief Executive of a local IFA firm as the business was sold.
Since retirement Phil has progressed many interests and has found an artistic side to his character, not previously discovered. Having attended numerous Mitber events, his interest in Photography has progressed and he enjoys meeting people and visiting different parts of Cornwall to discover them through the lens of his smart phone.
More recently a fused glass course in Camborne has resulted in Phil acquiring a glass kiln and setting up a studio where he can be found creating various master pieces as he refines his techniques and develops his craft abilities.
He says “I have joined the Mitber team to give something back for all the great times I have had to date. I believe my varied experience and skills can be put to good use to progress Mitber and help even more people going forward.”