Our People

OUR PEOPLE

Featuring some of our valued tutors.........
click on a name to take you to the relevant page or go to
COURSES to view the full list of classes

Ken Brain

Ken runs our popular upholstery workshops. Ken ran his own upholstery business in Auckland for 37 years and has spent over 30 years running upholstery workshops in both Auckland and Whangarei, sharing his knowledge and skills. Ken’s workshops are an enjoyable and fun experience with students often returning to complete yet another project. Barb said, "The course lived up to all my expectations and I came away happy with what I had achieved. Ken has a wealth of knowledge and is an excellent tutor." Ken intends to retire at the end of the year, so don't miss out. If you have an item of furniture that you want to recover ......enrol NOW!

Shelley Chappory

Shelley has worked in the Publishing & Advertising industries, in her own design studio, and as a Tutor for over 25 years. She believes learning and up-skilling can be an enjoyable experience for everyone. Shelley understands the needs of small businesses and also the challenges of modern technology. In her spare time Shelley makes art, attends all sorts of courses, and enjoys being the family genealogist.

Aiko Fukumoto

I am Japanese and lived in Auckland for 30 years before moving to Whangarei in 2020. I am a qualified massage therapist since 2008. I am passionate about holistic ways of treatment with natural resources; I studied herbal medicine, nutrition, acupressure points therapy, qigong and reiki to be able to help people of all ages, from babies to the elderly. I enjoy sharing and passing my knowledge of holistic ways of massage and exercise (qigong). I have also been a Kintsugi artist. I believe arts/crafts are mindfulness meditation. I am very happy to share my experiences of wellbeing with others and encourage people to learn how to look after their health.

Sally McGunnigle

As a former professional photographer I have been involved with photography for well over 20 years. My portfolio includes weddings, family portraits, glamour and events. I enjoy sharing my passion with others and encourage people to learn how to use their camera to its full potential.

Jo Martin

It is my passion to help people gain confidence and learn how to use a computer! My favourite student is the one who knows very little to start and leaves my classes with more confidence and computer skills. I started computer teaching in 2002 and my passion has just grown with time.
I moved myself and my business to Whangarei in 2014 and love living here. Being a life-long learner myself, I enjoy sharing what I know with others! If you need to learn how to use a computer or up-skill, I hope that you will join me in one of my classes and I look forward to meeting you.

Elena Nikolaeva

I was born and grew up in a big city in the middle of Russia. I studied visual arts for five years at the Urals State University and upon completion of my studies received an appointment to teach painting at the same university – a position which I held for many years. In my artistic career I have participated in a number of exhibitions, both in Russia and abroad and my paintings are in private collections in New Zealand and overseas.
I became a full time artist when I moved to New Zealand in 2001. Now living in Mangawhai, I am actively involved in the Northland arts community. I run regular visual arts classes and workshops for adults in both Northland and Auckland. To learn more about my art and teaching you are welcome to visit my website http://art-of-elena-nikolaeva.info/

Raewyn Rouse

I first started learning skin care formulation about ten years ago. I had decided to plough up our front paddock and plant it in lavender. Of course, then I had to figure out something to do with it all. I learnt to distil the blossom to extract the oil and hydrosol (also known as lavender water). Then, using books from the library and some online sources, I began to teach myself how to make skincare products. In 2014 I started selling products at markets under my brand Summer Scents. This started ten years of product creation and learning. There was a lot of fun and frustration involved. My product range has changed and expanded over the time in response to the market and a bit of inspiration. In 2022 I completed a Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation from the School of
Natural Skincare in England which finally rounded out the last couple of pieces of the puzzle for me. During this time, I started teaching basic classes on making skincare and discovered that it can be a lot of fun and that I enjoy the interaction with my groups. Recently I developed a more advanced course for those who want to learn just a little more.
Footnote: Raewyn has also been weaving for over eight years and is now tutoring an introductory flax weaving workshop

Vivienne Shepherd

Hi, I’m Vivienne Shepherd and I tutor The Sewing Bee. I’ve been teaching this night class for at least 16 years. The classes have gone from strength to strength with many returning students, and there are now three classes a week. I attended Kamo High in the seventies, then headed to The School of Physical Education at Otago University, and qualified as a teacher through Christchurch Teachers College. I then taught skiing in New Zealand, Canada and Japan. After many adventures I returned to Whangarei to assist my aging parents. This is when I approached Shona to run a sewing class. My mother sewed, thus I learned. I have honed my skill through trial and error and now have completed a Tailoring course with an Austrian Master Tailor. Teaching garment engineering is a joy for both student and myself. Come along, see what we can do together. No question is out of order. Come experience the joy and develop mastery with thread and fabric. Oh, and I have won various garmentry awards, especially with Steam Punk style!

Melissa Thompson

In 2020 I made the move from my home in New Mexico/Texas to New Zealand with my husband, who is a native Kiwi, and our two boys. My journey into the world of yoga began in 2019 when I received my initial certifications and, since then, I have delved into a multitude of qualifications both in and out of the realm of yoga. These include specialties such as yin yoga, restorative yoga, chair yoga, aqua yoga, yoga Nidra, meditation, Tabata, Barre, and Reiki.
Wellness and health for the body, mind, and spirit are my passions, and I am dedicated to providing classes that are not only safe and fun but also transformative and accessible to everyone. It is my mission to create an inclusive space where individuals can embark on their own unique journey towards holistic wellbeing.