Jo Acty was born in Maidstone Kent, studied Fine Art at Maidstone Art College, Winchester School of Art and Brookes University.

She started ArtWorks in 1989 and has been a freelance artist and teacher within the Oxfordshire area for over 27 years. She has worked in Schools (Nursery, Primary and Secondary), Museums. Hospitals, libraries, Nature Reserves, secure facilities and youth groups.

She loves teaching and sharing skills and is especially excited by materials. She works in a variety of media and works to commission and has exhibited in Oxford and Devon.  Her own work explores the theme of liminal and transient places and the link with our emotional landscape.

Jo is an Arts Award Adviser, (Arts Council Award Scheme)

Helen Edwards was born in South Africa, grew up in several countries overseas as an expat and returned to the UK at the age of 15.She studied Fine Art (BA) at Brookes University, specializing in printmaking, performance Art and Film. After gaining her PGCE in Secondary Art, Craft and Design she taught in several schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Helen has 20 years teaching experience, including Montessori Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Adult tuition and has been a tutor at ArtWorks for 10 years as well as being an Arts Adviser.

Her work is primarily focussed on culture, water and communication influenced by her transient childhood. Helen exhibits during Artweeks and other venues in and around Oxford.

Kieran Cox holds a BSc (Hons) Human Sciences from University College London, the course involved studying History of Medicine at the Wellcome Institute and Life Drawing at the Slade School of Fine Art. Kieran studied Foundation Art & Design at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College. 

He developed his Fine Art and critical theory skills studying BA (Hons) Drawing at Camberwell College of Arts, London graduating in 2010.  Kieran is an experienced picture framer and has also worked as a scenic artist for theatre productions in London's West End, the Almeida Theatre and at Shakespeare's the Globe. He regularly works as a contractor for Garsington Opera at Wormsley's site team on bespoke projects. 

When not teaching at Artworks Kieran works in arts administration for an Oxford-based community arts charity.

Grace Exley studied Fine Art at the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford and is now doing an MA at the Royal Drawing School in London. Her daughter, Berry, attends SS Mary & John, where ArtWorks is based. Grace loves to teach as she feels that it keeps her own practice fresh and inspired. She has exhibited her work many times in both group and solo shows.

Simon Acty is an illustrator and designer with a further background in animation, fine art and film.

A graduate of Animation and computer visual effects from Falmouth University, Simon is versed in various softwares and techniques for traditional/digital aided illustration and design.

When not teaching and working at Artworks Simon is a professional Illustrator and Concept Designer working in the media industry.