Meet the team

We operate as an independent charity, guided by our board of trustees and led by our chief executive. 

Directors

  • Graeme Howell

    Chief Executive

    Graeme leads Shetland Arts’ work connecting artists, audiences and communities across Shetland. He is committed to ambitious, accessible culture that is rooted in place while remaining outward-looking.

    Before joining Shetland Arts, Graeme held senior leadership roles in arts and cultural organisations across the UK, working across theatre, music, cross-artform practice and creative education. Since arriving in Shetland, he has focused on impact-led change, strengthening how creativity supports wellbeing, skills and the island’s economy. He is a member of the Culture Counts steering group and a volunteer for CRUK Relay for Life Shetland.

  • Kerry Llewellyn

    Director of Operations

    Kerry ensures Shetland Arts runs smoothly by overseeing systems, service delivery, people, buildings, finance and risk, while ensuring our operations are safe, legal and sustainable.

    Kerry Llewellyn started her career with Baker Tilly gaining her CA qualification whilst working as an auditor. During this time she specialised in the audit of Charities and Registered Social Landlords. After qualifying as a CA Kerry joined the Shetland Charitable Trust for a short period before joining Shetland Arts. Kerry is currently a volunteer with CRUK Relay for Life Shetland and the treasurer for the Pony Breeders of Shetland Association.

  • Catriona Macdonald

    Director of Creativity & Impact

    At Shetland Arts, Catriona oversees the delivery of all artistic and creative activity, including learning and outreach programmes.

    Catriona Macdonald is internationally recognised as one of Shetland’s foremost fiddle players and composers. Alongside her performance career, Catriona is a dedicated educator and researcher, having worked as Professor of Practice and Degree Programme Director for the BA in Folk and Traditional Music course at Newcastle University before joining Shetland Arts.

Creative Projects

Kathryn Gordon

Creative Project Manager

Education

Fraser Mouat

Education & Outreach Manager

Sales & Communication

Tessa Huntley

Sales & Marketing Manager

Customer Experience

Peter Tomlinson

Operations Manager

Finance

Andrea Henderson

Finance Manager

Support

Anne Smith

Support Manager

Production

Tim Matthew

Production Manager

Volunteer

Trustees

  • Jamie Manson

    Chair

    Currently working as the Finance Director for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd Jamie brings extensive experience of finances and resource management to Shetland Arts. Previous roles include Executive Manager, Finance at Shetland Islands Council and Director of Resources for Ascension Island Government

  • Charlotte Jones

    Charlotte has held an enthusiasm and appreciation for the arts since childhood. She enjoys a wide range of disciplines including film, literature, dance, visual arts and music. Charlotte is a practising solicitor and previously worked within the legal team at Shetland Islands Council where she advised on governance matters connected with the Council’s operations, its committees and the Shetland Integration Joint Board. Whilst there she also gained an insight into charitable organisations through her involvement with third sector contracts. She now works for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with a greater focus on environmental and regulatory issues. Charlotte has a long-standing interest in sustainability and safeguarding the environment and hopes to bring this, as well as her governance experience, as her contribution to the SADA Board

  • Hannah Hough

    Hannah is an experienced management accountant who has worked in various roles both in the public and private sector. She moved to Shetland in May 2023 with her husband having visited for many years looking for otters. At an amateur level she is especially interested in textile work and crafts.

  • Jacky Williamson

    Jacky works as an SVQ Assessor for Professional Cookery at UHI Shetland. Before joining the UHI, she ran her own event based/ catering business, combining creativity and community through food and celebration. Alongside her professional work, Jacky has been involved in Shetland’s performing arts, performing in local plays, musicals, working backstage, choreographing dance routines and offering vocal coaching. She continues to expand her skills through attendance at NODA Summer School.

    As a Shetland Arts Trustee, she is committed to supporting creativity, local talent and celebrating the islands’ vibrant cultural community.

  • Kristofer Wilson

    Kristofer is a dynamic and accomplished Engineer and Project Manager with board-level experience in both professional and personal contexts. He brings extensive operational delivery experience and can navigate across complex technical landscapes whilst aligning high impact projects with strategic plans & goals. Kristofer also has a rich background in the arts, including photography, especially wildlife, acting in film and musical theatre and hands-on involvement in stage and sound production. This blend of engineering precision and artistic creativity makes him a uniquely versatile and insightful contributor across disciplines.

  • Malcolm Innes

    Malcolm is a very experienced light artist and architectural lighting design consultant with experience on large scale projects around the world. He combines his architectural lighting design work with art projects and commissions working principally with light, sound and projection. Malcolm is now based at Shetland UHI and is Director of the Centre for Island Creativity. He also leads the Creative Economy Knowledge Exchange Group across UHI.

  • Kerry Larbalestier

    Kerry was a solicitor in England for many years, working in a market town practice primarily in the area of Family Law. She trained and worked as a collaborative lawyer to offer her clients a different way of resolving family issues.

    She is a Rotarian and was a member of Newton Abbot Rotary Club before transferring to the Lerwick Club following her move to Shetland. During her time with the Newton Abbot Club she supported a number of art projects with local schools or local charities such as The Helen Foundation helping young people to access the arts, and this remains a particular passion of hers.

  • Michèle Kerry

    Michèle currently works for Shetland UHI in the Student Support Team. A decision to study Forestry at university resulted in her leaving Shetland and spending most of her career working in woodland management and the environmental sector in various parts of the UK. With a keen interest in the arts Michèle has always tried to support the sector as a volunteer. Michèle and her family moved back home to Shetland in 2017.