01229 825085
Art Gene, Bath Street, Barrow-in-Furness,
Cumbria, LA14 5TY England, UK
Directors and Staff
The Art Gene team is comprised of a small core staff, a board of trustees and a wealth of associates and partner organisations. This page details our board and staff.
Maddi Nicholson – Artist Founder Director
Stuart Bastik (1965–2024)
Maddi Nicholson and the late Stuart Bastik created Art Gene in 2002. Together they evolved the vision behind Art Gene’s artistic direction. Maddi now continues independently to establish, develop, design, and deliver new projects in collaboration with our associates. Creating artworks, developing concept designs, and new projects. Defining Art Gene’s research remit, company aims, and objectives, and overseeing all aspects of the company’s work, reporting to our board of trustees.
As an artist a founder director she inspires, establishes, and maintains new partnerships and initiatives, assembling and managing associate teams for project delivery and development. As part of wider independent panels, contributing to the selection of artists and architects applying through open submission to undertake residencies or exhibit at Art Gene.
Alongside their freelance work with Art Gene, Maddi and Stuart pursued their individual artistic practices while also collaborating as Nicholson Bastik. Maddi continues to develop her own freelance artistic work today, whilst also directing the company.
Follow the links to view some of their work:
Clinton Rimmer – Site Maintenance and Project Support Manager
Clinton is maintenance manager for our Nan Tait studios and gallery and Allotment Soup the Isle of Walney Community Growing Space. He assists with the practical upkeep of both sites and provides support to artists and others installing exhibitions, preparing spaces for events and assists with the practical elements in projects delivery.
Jo Reilly – Deputy Director
Jo is Art Gene’s Deputy Director. She joined the company in 2021 to work on the ERDF partnership project ‘Low Carbon Barrow’ following a variety of roles working in academia and for a national funder. Jo leads on fundraising and business development for Art Gene.
Norman Wild – Company Secretary and Financial Manager
Norman currently works from Art Gene’s office two days a week. He is Art Gene’s Financial Manager, looks after our trustees, manages our projects finances, handles the contractual elements of tenancies, room hires and other aspects of our premises management and accounts.
Meg Bowyer – Programme Associate
Meg Bowyer has joined Art Gene in 2026 as Programme Associate, developing projects across the programme, delivering events and exhibitions with local groups, volunteers, and visiting artists.
Meg’s had the privilege of working with many arts and heritage organisations in the North West, as an artist, a collections assistant, and in production roles. She has a background in theatre, working locally as a designer and stage manager with Cumbria Opera Group and Fevered Sleep. Meg’s education is in drawing, and her artistic practice looks at the overlap of industry, archive, and material ecologies in Cumbria- so she’s in the right place!
Rachael Barker – Art Gene Projects & Volunteer Manager
Rachael joined the Art Gene team in 2022 as our Project and Communications Manager. She works across Art Gene’s programme, and supports everything from planning and event delivery to communications and community outreach. Rachael plays a key role in promoting our events and helping to deliver our Field Friday sessions at Allotment Soup – Art Gene’s long term Community Growing Space and project, on the Isle of Walney. She manages our dedicated pool of volunteers and is often found cooking up something delicious for our community gatherings.
Rachael studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University before returning to her home town of Barrow-In-Furness. Outside of work she’s a passionate animal lover and brings that same care and empathy into her roles at Art Gene.
Haoyue Chen – Curatorial and Audience Development Coordinator
Haoyue joined Art Gene in 2026 as Curatorial and Audience Development Coordinator, supporting the delivery of exhibitions and events, and helping to develop new audiences based on local and international groups.
Haoyue is from Ningbo, an industrial port city similar to Barrow, located to the southeastern coast of China. She had her artistic education in London, then developed her curatorial practices across the UK and Europe. She’s passionate about coastal landscapes, nature and socially engaged initiatives, all topics which Art Gene addresses. Alongside her role at Art Gene, she’s developing her practice as an artist/critic, and embedding herself in Cumbria.