Anita Memar

I’m Anita Memar, a designer and illustrator based in Manchester, working mainly with handcrafted decorative objects that tell stories. My background is in illustration, but my practice has grown to include sculpture and character-driven pieces that blend visual art, storytelling, and function.

Since moving to the UK and completing my MA in Illustration at Manchester Metropolitan University, I’ve become more focused on creating work that carries meaning — something emotional and personal. I don’t just see my pieces as decorative objects; I see them as little stories. A moment, a character, a familiar feeling — something that connects with the person who sees or holds it.

In both my sculptures and illustrations, I try to bring characters to life and give them a place in the real world. My collection “Functional Characters” is all about that idea — giving each piece a personality and a short story, making it something you can live with, not just look at.

I’m always open to working with independent shops, galleries, or brands who value handmade work, storytelling, and design that feels personal. If that sounds like you, I’d love to connect.

 

 

Exhibitions and Highlights

  • Flock and Gaggle Pop-Up and Workshop – Quayside MediaCityUK, Salford (April 2025)

  • Makers Market (Stallholder) – Quayside MediaCityUK, Salford (March 2025)

  • Make Your Mark Exhibition – Fruity Frenzy x West Art Collective, Manchester (November 2024)

  • Vertical Gallery Commissions – The Lowry Building, MMU, Manchester (September 2024)

  • MA Show – Manchester Metropolitan University (September 2024)

  • “Woman-Life-Freedom” Illustration – Featured in The 101 Art Book: Floral Edition (January 2024)

 

 

Connect with Me
Website: https://anitamemar.com/
Instagram: @ani.memar
Email: anita.memarzade@gmail.com

Valeria Leonova

Valeria is a passionate artist, illustrator, and art educator with a distinctive flair for storytelling through visual art. With years of experience illustrating children’s books, her work is characterised by vibrant colours, intricate details, and a compelling narrative quality.

Drawing inspiration from her cultural heritage and personal experiences, she creates evocative illustrations that captivate young readers and bring stories to life.

As the founder of engaging art workshops, she shares her love for traditional techniques such as Petrykivka painting, while encouraging others to explore their own creative voices.

Melika Rafat

An Iranian artist and graphic designer based in Manchester since September 2023.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Painting and an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design from Azad University, Shahre-Qods branch. My artistic journey began with a focus on painting and visual design, gradually expanding into teaching, content creation, and brand identity development.

In the UK, I have continued my work as a graphic designer, painting instructor, video editor, and photographer. I have collaborated with cultural and artistic collectives such as Sahba Events and Pirsook, and I currently teach painting at Sahba Academy.

Alongside these collaborations, I work as a freelance creative, producing advertising photography, promotional videos, and graphic design projects for various clients.

I am proficient in graphic design software, especially Adobe Photoshop, and have a basic working knowledge of Illustrator. My skill set includes photo editing and retouching, video editing, brand identity design, and social media marketing. My approach blends creativity, precision, and strong teamwork.

Karolina Kanska

My name is Karolina, and I’m a conceptual photographer. Originally from Ukraine, I’m now based in England, where I’m finding my voice through the lens of photography. 

As a bookworm at heart, storytelling is a big part of how I see the world—and that’s exactly what I aim to do through my work. Whether it’s about you, your product, your service, or the people behind it.

Mahrokh Mofidnakhaei

Mahrokh Mofid Nakhaei is an Iranian painter based in Manchester, UK. She earned her MA in Painting from Manchester School of Art in 2024. Since relocating to the UK in 2023, she has actively participated in the contemporary art scene, contributing to group exhibitions and fostering a growing dialogue with international artists.

Her work explores fading memories, lost narratives, and the interplay between absence and presence. Through layered compositions, subtle transparencies, and expressive mark-making, Mahrokh captures the transient nature of memory and belonging. Using a glazing technique, she builds depth and complexity, revealing hidden fragments beneath the surface—mirroring how time reshapes and distorts lived experiences.

In 2024, she was awarded the Haworth Trust Studio Scholarship.

Recent and upcoming exhibitions include:

  • Group Show, Mill 1 Gallery, 1853 Studios, Manchester (2025)

  • Open Studios, Mill 2, 1853 Studios, Manchester (2025)

  • Comme Ca Art x AWOL Studios Open Call, shortlisted artist (May 2025)

  • Beep Painting Biennial, Swansea (2024)

  • Beyond the Capital 3, Saan1 Gallery, Manchester (2024)

  • Shifting Sands, Saan1 Gallery, Manchester (2024)

  • The Fronteer Open, Sheffield (2024)

  • MA/MFA Degree Show, Holden Gallery & Open Studios, Manchester (2024)

  • Harley Foundation Open, Nottingham – People’s Prize Winner (2024)

In summer 2025, she will join a three-month fully funded course at Apollo Painting School to further develop her painting practice and expand her technical and conceptual range.

Daria Protsenko

Conceptual digital artist, photographer, and experience designer. My art exists at the intersection of urban surrealism, glitch aesthetics, and conceptual futurism.
I begin with real photographs—streets, reflections, structures—and transform them into the art of distortion, the elegance of digital chaos, and the experience of meaning within abstraction.

Each piece is a controlled explosion of colour, tension, and architecture, meant not to decorate space but to disrupt perception and question the frame itself. I don’t create images — I build atmospheres.

Mahboobeh Rajabi

Mahboobeh Rajabi is an award winner Creative Entrepreneur, Artist, Cultural Leader and creative producer from Manchester. She has been working in the UK and internationally since 2010, working with different communities and cultures.

Her mission is to give a platform to untold stories and give voices to the unheard voices through the language of art and building creative sustainable businesses for communities.

Mohammad Tohidi

Mohammad is a musician and visual artist who also has a passion for food and that leads him to be the lead chef at National Trust.

Mohammad is also the co-founder of a global recognised business model ‘DIPACT CIC’ which is cafe’s run and led by artists, based on his experience both as an artist and a chef.

Hamid Abi

Born in May 1990 (Ordibehesht 1369 in the Persian calendar) in Iran, based in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Hamid Abi is a professional actor and director who began his artistic journey in 2005 with a strong foundation in theatre. He was a member of the Visor Group under the leadership of Peyman Mandegar. Over the years, he has developed a distinctive voice both on stage and screen, contributing to a wide range of theatrical and cinematic projects.

Hamid Abi is a professional actor and director who began his artistic journey in 2005 with a strong foundation in theatre. He was a member of the Visor Group under the leadership of Peyman Mandegar. Over the years, he has developed a distinctive voice both on stage and screen, contributing to a wide range of theatrical and cinematic projects.

Theatre Work:

  • Director of Homaye Rahmat
  • Director of Three Windows of Joy
  • Actor in Seven Carriages of One Train
  • Assistant Director for Intensive Care
  • Assistant Director for Sudden Nightfall
  • Assistant Director for Colonel of the Machine Gun Road
  • Writer and Director of Three Dots and Nothing More
  • Writer and Director of Donkey Smuggling
  • Director of The Explosion of Kahreh
  • Director of The Trickster
  • Director of Rain and Mina
  • and several other productions.

Film & Television:

  • Actor in the feature film A B C D
  • Actor in the feature film Temple of the Soul
  • Actor in the TV series Children of the MoonActor in the TV series Greenwich Mean Time in Abadan

Hamid also worked for Manoto TV for eight years, gaining valuable experience in television production and broadcasting.

Dr. Sayyed Ali Mirenayat

Dr. Sayyed Ali Mirenayat is a highly accomplished and versatile English Literature lecturer and English language instructor with over a decade of international experience across Asia, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in English Literature from Universiti Putra Malaysia, complemented by an MA in English Literature from EFL University in India, and a recent MSc in International Business from Ulster University in the UK.

Ali has taught English Language, Literature, IELTS, and Business English at a range of institutions including universities, international schools, language institutes, and refugee centers. His teaching philosophy centers on inclusivity, learner-centered environments, and the use of creative strategies to engage multicultural classrooms. His broad teaching background spans academic English, drama, creative writing, and English for specific purposes—including business and medical English.

As a prolific researcher and published academic, Ali has authored over 20 peer- reviewed journal articles and co-authored a widely accessible English learning book available on Amazon. He has served on the editorial boards of multiple international journals, reflecting his commitment to advancing scholarship in literature, language, and cultural studies. His doctoral work and subsequent publications explore interdisciplinary themes such as posthumanism, dystopian literature, science fiction, and ecocriticism.

Ali is also an experienced English assessor, interpreter, and community educator. In the UK, he has contributed to refugee education and cultural inclusion initiatives through his work with Keele University, ASHA, and the New Vic Theatre. He is fluent in both English and Persian/Farsi and regularly creates online educational content for English learners worldwide.

Dedicated to making a meaningful difference in education, Ali continues to seek opportunities to teach, inspire, and support learners of all backgrounds. He is currently based in Manchester, UK, and is eligible to work and reside in the UK.