Six Isle of Wight creatives and creative collaborations have been awarded £450 each through the IW Creative Network (IWCN) Seed Fund 2026, supporting new ideas, creative experimentation and the development of their artistic practice.
The Seed Fund provides small grants to help Island-based creatives take the next step in their practice, whether that’s exploring new materials and techniques, developing skills, testing ideas or building connections that could lead to future opportunities.
This year’s fund attracted a high number of applications, demonstrating the breadth of creative talent and ambition across the Island. The six selected projects span photography, jewellery, publishing, public art, experimental visual arts and artists’ books.
The emphasis is on supporting research and development, giving creatives the time, space and resources to experiment, take creative risks and explore ideas that might otherwise be difficult to pursue.
We’re delighted to introduce this year’s recipients and share what they’ll be developing with the support of the Seed Fund.
Meet the 2026 Seed Fund Recipients:
Becca Charlo – Contemporary Jewellery & Sustainable Materials
Becca is a contemporary jewellery designer and goldsmith whose practice combines traditional techniques with recycled metals, found objects and materials inspired by the Isle of Wight coastline. Her Seed Fund will support the research and development of a new collection of approximately 6–8 jewellery pieces incorporating locally collected waste plastics and other reclaimed materials. Working with Island-based Patter Products, Becca will experiment with custom-moulded waste plastic and new material combinations, exploring more sustainable approaches to jewellery-making. The funding will help her develop a cohesive new collection, with ambitions to exhibit the work and further establish sustainability within her creative practice.
Laura Hathaway – Visual Arts & Community-Led Public Art
Laura is a visual and community artist specialising in abstract painting, experimental mark-making and collaborative public artworks. Her Seed Fund will support the early research and development of Breathing Space, an ambitious project exploring how overlooked places of shelter across the Isle of Wight could be creatively transformed. Through site visits, conversations with local authorities and potential partners, and opportunities for public engagement, Laura will investigate possible locations and develop ideas for creative interventions. The funding will provide dedicated development time to test the concept, build relationships and lay the foundations for a larger-scale, community-led public art project.
Lottie Begg – Writing, Illustration & Community Publishing
Through Lemon Jelly Press CIC, Lottie combines writing, illustration and publishing with community storytelling. Her Seed Fund will support the creation of a pilot edition of The Happy Islander, a free newspaper celebrating positive stories from across the Isle of Wight. The project will invite children to contribute their own stories and artwork, giving young people an opportunity to see their creativity in print. The Seed Fund will enable Lottie to test the concept, build relationships with schools and community organisations, and explore the potential for The Happy Islander to become a sustainable monthly publication.
Stacey Hughes – Photography & Analogue Processes
Stacey is a photographer whose practice explores experimental techniques, including multiple exposure, digital montage and alternative photographic processes. Her Seed Fund will support specialist darkroom training, allowing her to revisit and develop her analogue photography skills through film processing, printing and experimentation. With potential access to darkroom facilities at GRAFT Studios, Stacey also hopes to develop opportunities to share her knowledge through future photography workshops, helping others explore analogue processes and techniques.
Steve Miles – Abstract Painting, Typography & Experimental Art
Steve is an abstract artist whose practice draws on his background in graffiti and graphic design, combining expressive mark-making with typography and geometric forms. His Seed Fund will support the development of Pictograffik, an experimental body of work exploring how letterforms can be fragmented, reassembled and transformed into abstract visual compositions. Through laser-cutting tests and experimentation with new surfaces, materials and techniques, Steve aims to push his practice beyond painting and explore more sculptural approaches. The funding will give him valuable time and resources to experiment, test ideas and take creative risks without the pressure of producing a finished body of work.
The Artist’s Husband – Collaborative Visual Arts & Artists’ Books
The Artist’s Husband is a creative collaboration between Joshua Raffell and Dave Smithers, exploring themes of family history and connection through artists’ books. Building on previous commissions for Winchester School of Art and Tate Britain Library, their Seed Fund will support the development of a new artists’ book in the shape of a hovercraft, creating a playful connection to the Isle of Wight. The project will also explore opportunities to place the book within Island and Portsmouth-based art and library collections, building relationships with potential hosts and testing a model for making their work more widely accessible, particularly to collections with limited acquisition budgets.
Supporting Creative Development on the Isle of Wight
The IW Creative Network Seed Fund is about more than the financial award. It’s an opportunity to give Island creatives the confidence and practical support to explore new directions, develop their skills and make connections that could have a lasting impact on their practice. While each of the six projects is different, they share a commitment to experimentation, development and exploring what’s possible. We’re looking forward to following their progress over the coming months and sharing what they discover, create and achieve along the way!
We’d also like to thank everyone who took the time to apply. The quality and range of applications demonstrated the strength of the Island’s creative community, and while we couldn’t support every proposal, we remain committed to helping IWCN members develop their practice through advice, training, peer support sessions and opportunities to connect and collaborate.
Interested in developing your own creative practice?
The IW Creative Network supports artists, makers and creative professionals across the Isle of Wight through professional development, networking, advice and creative opportunities.
Click here to find out more about the network and how to get involved.
Top banner image: Artwork by Laura Hathaway