Team

John Main

Having been born in Glasgow, grown up in Manchester, and spent time living in Birmingham, Belfast and Shropshire, John is no stranger to starting new chapters in new places, but Banff is definitely where he’s found his forever home.

Following a degree in artificial intelligence he spent 5 years as an engineer at the BBC before trading the soldering iron for the computer keyboard and embarking on a career in software engineering. Although much of his creativity is based around the virtual world, he’s also a keen carpenter, DIY enthusiast, and chain-mailler.

Ever keen on getting involved with his community, in addition to working for The Forge, John also runs Banff Bikes, and is a founding member of the Banff and Macduff Development Trust.

Nina Main

Since graduating with an honours degree in English Studies in 2005, Nina main has enjoyed a number of years experience working within customer service, library and  information Management, and strategic and operational leadership and management within the education sector.

Nina is passionate and enthusiastic about people and community, she believes wholeheartedly in  lifelong-learning and socialisation through activity  as a method of social adhesion, community building and mental health support.

Jonathan Farquharson

Jonathan was born in Fife and grew up in the Isle of Lewis. He studied Artificial Intelligence & Robotics at RGU and then slowly made his way North of the city. As someone committed to craft and community, he's excited about what is being undertaking at the Forge. With an unwavering attention to detail and a genuine love for working with wood, his journey has taken me from crafting in his own space to envisioning collaborative projects within this vibrant artistic community. 

What truly excites him is the opportunity to teach and encourage others through dedicated tutorials, fostering a creative atmosphere where skills are shared. As he engages with a group of inspiring local artists and passionate individuals, he hopes to bring a gentle, caring, and experienced hand to contribute to the community's rich creative energy. 

Let's craft something beautiful together!

Carla and Bryan Angus

We moved to Banff in 2002 to raise a family and start a brand new arts venture, The Creative Retreat. Based in Gardenstown for fifteen years, the company offered arts tuition, studios, and residential accommodation for anyone interested in exploring and developing their creative skills. During this time we were delighted to welcome people from as far as Australia, Canada, the USA and Macduff. 

Originally theatre designers, we have varied experience in venue management, creative programming, tourism, and community engagement, and have facilitated workshops and events for schools, colleges, and third-sector organisations. Carla is now a Cultural Development Officer for Live Life Aberdeenshire, alongside studying for a postgraduate degree in Contemporary Art Practice at Grays School of Art. Bryan is a prolific visual artist working across lino print, painting and drawing, with artwork in private collections across the world and several whiskey labels to his name. We deeply believe that everyone should have the chance to experience the joy that creativity brings and are delighted to be involved with The Forge

Logan Pell

Logan, the newest addition to the team, is a whole-hearted supporter of the true ideals of community. Working together and sharing skills and resources forms the core of who she is.

With a self-studied background in environmental and human rights activism, Logan is a strong advocate for those who need a voice, from the smallest creature to the tallest trees.

An avid forager and adventurer, Logan is most at home in natural spaces, and spends many hours teaching her young family about the great outdoors.

In the digital world, Logan works creatively to promote local community groups and businesses by offering to design advertising graphics for free.

Discovering a strong sense of community when she moved to Banff, she has dived right in with many local groups and seeks to strengthen connections between people and services.