About

Hi, I’m Sharon. In 2020, I moved to Westward Ho! in North Devon from Hertfordshire with my husband, who was born and bred here. His parents live just up the road in Northam, and it made sense to move closer to them. Our three grown-up children were off doing their own thing in London, and they loved the idea of visiting us by the sea.

I’ve always been a creative person, with a background rooted in fashion and graphic design. I’m also one half of the artist duo QUIETBRITISHACCENT, best known for our elusive #pennydrops, hand-painted, pre-decimal pennies that we leave tucked away in unexpected places for others to discover.

Currently, I’m the Director of Community Engagement at Studio KIND., a contemporary art gallery in North Devon. In this role, I work closely with local community groups and organisations to build strong relationships, helping the gallery to deliver creative and well-being projects that respond to the needs of our area.

Before this, I ran The Art Cabin, an art club for primary school-aged children, for almost a decade. I also contributed teaching resources to AccessArt, a UK Registered Charity and leading provider of digital visual arts resources in the UK. Over the years, I’ve designed and led many creative workshops and community projects, which have given me a deep appreciation of how creativity can support well-being at every stage of life.

Alongside my work, I’m a lifelong maker. I learned to sew when I was 13 and still love designing and stitching all kinds of things, though I have a particular soft spot for making bags! You can see some of my creations on my personal Instagram @Sharon.qba.

Through this Hot Flush blog, I hope to share supportive, creative, and practical resources for people experiencing menopause, especially here in North Devon, where support can sometimes feel harder to find. I’m passionate about building conversations, sharing knowledge, and finding ways to navigate menopause with creativity, connection, and confidence.