OUR TEAM

Director of Programming
 

Dr Claudia Milburn

Dr Claudia Milburn is an accomplished art historian, curator, and programme director whose leadership in museum and gallery contexts forms the foundation of her influential role at Messums Creative. She joined the Messums team in 2021 as Director of Programming, bringing over a decade of experience in exhibitions and collection strategy from esteemed institutions such as Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, where she was Head of Exhibitions and Collections, and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich, where she served as Curator. 

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Claudia holds a doctorate in Art History, as well as a Bachelor's in English and American Literature from the University of East Anglia, and a Master’s in Drawing from Norwich University of the Arts—a background that combines critical scholarship with creative practice. 

Development Messums East
 

Katy Kingston

At Messums Creative, Katy supports the development of Messums East, playing a key role in shaping the charity’s programme of workshops, residencies, talks, and creative access projects that expand opportunities for arts engagement in rural and community settings. She brings extensive experience across the creative industries, having worked in fashion, textiles, visual and combined arts, alongside roles in education and cultural development.

Since returning to Suffolk, Katy has combined her creative expertise with a strong commitment to cultural development and community engagement. She has lectured on fashion and visual arts at higher education level and worked on major regional initiatives, securing significant funding and developing programmes that connect artists, schools, and local communities. Her work consistently focuses on widening participation in the arts, ensuring accessibility, and supporting meaningful opportunities for creative learning and expression.

Head of Messums Studios

Mirka Golden-Hann

Mirka Golden-Hann is a Czech-born ceramic artist and tutor with over 25 years’ experience in the field. She is a master of her profession with a reputation as a passionate and intuitive thrower. Whilst being a glaze technology specialist, her interest in ceramics is the pursuit of the medium beyond utility, exploring its nature to narrate and explore concept.

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After graduating from The University of Westminster, Harrow Ceramics in 1999, she set up her first studio making salt glaze work. Funded by the AHRC she obtained a first-class MA Ceramics from Bath Spa University in 2009.

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Throughout her career, Mirka’s pedagogical and curatorial practice has focused on collaboration, on creating learning spaces which enrich the community by forging meaningful interpersonal bonds, and most importantly on enabling others to thrive creatively.

In 2021 Mirka was invited to assist with the setting up of Messums Studios West in Chilmark and became the head of the studios in January 2022.

She is a published researcher and collaborative practitioner. Her work is held in public and private collections in the UK and abroad.

Studio Coordinator / Pottery Instructor
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Sandra Combes

Sandra Combes has been a member of Messums Studios since the start, first as an avid student, later on as a volunteer, and from Spring 2025 she took on the responsibilities of the studio coordinator and ceramics instructor/ tutor. Sandra lives locally and holds an Open BSc (hons) from the Open University with a bias towards Design. She brings to her work experience from her varied past careers in science and engineering and people facing work. Her previous creative interest in textiles being a spinner, weaver and felter reflect in her clay work now.

Sandra trained in ceramics with Andy Glass and Mirka Golden-Hann, as well as learning from many of the Messums visiting artist tutors. Sandra also learned drawing and painting from Edward Scott and Laura Rich.

Sandra has a wealth of creative knowledge  besides ceramics which she enjoys passing on to Messums students, helping them to build their own creative confidence.

Ceramics Tutor
 

Lynne Heaton

Lynne Heaton is an artist and sculptor with a deep fascination for translating fables and fairy tales into works of art. Lynne works in mediums such as felt, painting, collage but most notably in clay. She is a qualified art therapist who is registered with the Health Professions Council, the British Association of Art Therapists and works as a practitioner with the Family Counselling Trust Wiltshire Charity.

Lynne is an experienced clay and art workshop leader who has worked with many community groups of all ages for over twenty years.

Drawing School & Outreach Lead
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Emma J Findley

Emma J Findley is a fine artist, photographer, and art educator whose creative practice spans over 25 years. Working across fine art photography, drawing, and painting, her approach is process-led, valuing observation, material exploration, and reflective enquiry. Her work engages with themes of memory, landscape, and personal history.

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Emma holds a BA (Hons) Fine Art from Leeds Beckett University and has worked across a broad range of educational contexts, from early years to higher education and alternative provision. Teaching remains central to her practice, shaping an inclusive, enquiry-led approach to making and learning. Alongside her studio work, Emma has facilitated exhibitions, residencies, and creative programmes, and continues to develop work at the intersection of artist, educator, and community practitioner.