Arts in Libraries x Independents Biennial 2025
St Helens - Arts in Libraries is proud to partner with Independents Biennial 2025 to present six original AiL Creative Commissions from artists living and working in St Helens Borough.
In the true spirit of the Independents Biennial, these commissions are not presented under a collective theme; each exists on its own terms - inviting dialogue around the unique places & people of St Helens, and their interconnectedness with the wider Liverpool City Region.
From the 7th of June to 14th September, works from these six St Helens based artists will be exhibited alongside works from artists across the Liverpool City Region (including Independents Biennial 2025 commission: New Age Memorial Service by Jacques Verkade & Callan Waldron-Hall) at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery in The World of Glass, St Helens.
Arts in Libraries x Independents Biennial 2025 is a celebration of the long-standing partnership between St Helens Borough Council Library Service's NPO programme and Liverpool's Independents Biennial, and a reflection of the unique voices and visions of our region's artists.
The six St Helens AiL Creative Commission artists are:
- Joao Coelho
- Kathryn Raven
- Phill Campbell
- Becca Rauer
- Roan Jenkins
- Angela Wilkinson & Jeff Gilgannon
St Helens - Arts in Libraries is an Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service. We champion, promote, develop and deliver a diverse and inclusive programme of arts and culture across all seven of St Helens Borough's libraries, and beyond.
The Independents Biennial, celebrating the art and artists living and working in Liverpool city-region, opens to the public on Saturday 7 June, with a special, free to attend launch on Thursday 5 June in Port Sunlight showcasing a range of art venues and artists in the historic village. Learn More about the Independents Biennial events - Home - Independents Biennial.
If you're interested in our commission grants and how we support and develop artistic talent, please sign up for our e-zine Here to stay informed about future opportunities
Meet the Artists
Joao Coelho
Coelho is a Portuguese artist based in St Helens, known for his intricate miniature dioramas that celebrate forgotten architecture and urban memory. Joao reconstructs facades of shops, pubs, and historic buildings that once shaped local communities.
His work preserves the beauty of decay while sparking conversations around place, time, and transformation.
St Helens: Echoes of the Familiar is a three-piece series capturing the spirit of now-lost landmarks in the town's landscape. Each miniature diorama is a tribute to a cherished building, Alice Shop, Burchall's, and The Raven Hotel, preserved in their former glory through layered textures, aged details, and narrative presence. The project reflects the shared history embedded in our streets and the quiet resilience of everyday places.
Coelho was commissioned by St Helens - Arts in Libraries. An Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
St Helens: Echoes of the Familiar will be exhibited at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery at The World of Glass 7th June - 14th Sept. A pop-up exhibition will tour the Liverpool City Region.
Links:
Instagram: @jcdioramaart
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/joaocoelhoart
Kathryn Raven
Raven is an artist, illustrator, and educator based in St Helens, currently studying part-time for an MA in Illustration with Falmouth University. With nearly two decades of experience in the museum and gallery sector her practice is grounded in creative education, access, and community engagement. She has produced learning resources for Tate, The Museum of London and Manchester Art Gallery, where her work is also currently available in the gallery shop.
Hand to Eye is a socially engaged, illustrated resource aimed at children aged 5-12 and their families—particularly those from underrepresented groups. The project supports access to museums across the Liverpool City Region and encourages cultural exploration through creativity and care. It will include venues from The World of Glass to The Atkinson, all accessible via the Merseyrail network. The associated booklet is called Explore + Draw.
The work seeks to reduce barriers to engagement, foster pride and belonging, and promote positive wellbeing through joyful, inclusive experiences.
Raven was commissioned by St Helens - Arts in Libraries. An Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
Hand to Eye will be exhibited at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery at The World of Glass 7th June - 14th Sept. Explore + Draw will be distributed to museums across the Liverpool City Region. When families reach their museum/art gallery of choice they will be gifted coloured pencils to use in their booklet.
Links:
Instagram: @iamkathrynraven
Portfolio: https://kathrynraven.myportfolio.com/
Phill Campbell
Phill Campbell is a Queer performance artist, Poet, Writer, Visual Artist and Singer. Over the past few years he has performed in choral works at Stoller Hall and the Lowry, In Frozen Light, a multi-sensory performance for audiences with disabilities, sung the male solo at the opening ceremony for St Helens Borough of Culture 2023, and produced a one-man show, Queering my Pitch.
Queering the Bard is a performance project presenting Shakespeare through a Queer lens. It will feature selected Shakespeare texts illustrating the Bard's implied queerness and how this might speak to audiences today. Many of the texts will be set to jazz-influenced music, illuminated by new poetry, storytelling and song. The aim of the work is to connect Queer culture/heritage to a wider audience and to make Shakespeare more accessible by delivering a unique performance experience.
Phill Campbell was commissioned by St Helens - Arts in Libraries. An Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
Queering the Bard will debut in St Helens Libraries in August & will tour venues across the Liverpool City Region. A documentary about the work, made in collaboration with First Take will be exhibited at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery at The World of Glass 7th June - 14th Sept.
Becca Rauer
Becca Rauer is a self-taught embroidery and textile artist from St Helens. She's interested in nature, folklore, feminism, and giving things a go.
With Stanley Bank, Becca took inspiration from one of St Helens' many nature reserves and the area surrounding it. Stanley Bank and its meadow is an abundant habitat for native species including some rarer creatures and plants. Her embroidery in this project features The Mother Shipton moth and Adders Tongue fern. Both are prevalent in these areas and are beautiful examples of biodiversity in St Helens Borough.
Becca hopes that this project will increase awareness of the rich biodiversity of St Helens which should be celebrated and protected.
Becca Rauer was commissioned by St Helens - Arts in Libraries. An Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
Stanley Bank will be exhibited at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery at The World of Glass 7th June - 14th Sept. Becca also leads a Textile Group at Eccleston Library, St Helens. You can join this group via the St Helens - Arts in Libraries website.
Links:
Instagram: @beccarauerart
Angela Wilkinson & Jeff Gilgannon
Wilkinson is a professional photographer based in St Helens. She is interested in creating compelling narratives through photography which evoke emotion and create a deeper understanding for the viewer. Gilgannon is a photographer based in St Helens whose primary focus is on abstract scenes that provoke curiosity and invite observation.
Our Town is a collaboration between Angela and Jeff, in which their distinct photographic styles provoke dialogue around the regeneration of St Helens in a way which engages the local community and attempts to cultivate a positive view of the town, both now and in the future.
The focus of the project is twofold: to presents the town's buildings, shapes and architecture in unique perspectives which challenge people to observe and realise the often-overlooked beauty in their environment, & also on environmental portraits of the people who live, work or study in this environment; highlighting their skills, work and talents which, if recognised and promoted would make an important contribution to our local culture and economy.
Angela Wilkinson & Jeff Gilgannon were commissioned by St Helens - Arts in Libraries. An Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
Our Town will be exhibited at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery at The World of Glass 7th June - 14th Sept. A pop-up exhibition will tour the Liverpool City Region.
Links:
Instagram: @jfgilan / @angelawilkinsonphotography
https://500px.com/p/tradlem / www.angelawilkinsonphotography.com
Roan Jenkins
Roan Jenkins, the artist behind Spirit and Spore, is a Mixed Media Surface Pattern Designer and Illustrator from Moss Bank, St Helens. Their business (previously known as Megan Jenkins Design) has appeared at many art markets across Merseyside and now has a permanent shop space at Red Brick Market, Liverpool.
Made "for the readers, dreamers, and the wonderfully weird" their works spans genre and boasts a wide range of colourful and unique designs on a selection of products including jewellery and keychains, bookmarks and bags, pins and more. A Proud Queer, Autistic, Disabled Artist, their passions and special interests shine through in their work helping others to see themselves too.
Inspired by their lifelong love of books, and personal use of the St Helens Library Service, Roan has created 3 unique reading inspired designs for tote bags with influences from bookish media. Working in partnership with the St Helens Library Service to showcase the Top 100 Most Loaned Books of 2024/2025, the central "Support Your Local Library" design presents the community's favourite books of the year, and thanks all for their support of our local libraries.
Roan Jenkins was commissioned by St Helens - Arts in Libraries. An Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
Support Your Local Library will be exhibited at The Godfrey Pilkington Gallery at The World of Glass 7th June - 14th Sept. Roans designs will also feature on tote bags available at the Independents Biennial Launch Party in Port Sunlight Village on Thursday 5th June.
Links:
Instagram: @spiritandspore
www.spiritandspore.co.uk
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