Carrie Phoenix
3 Cherry Tree Cottage, Southwold Road, Holton, Halesworth, IP19 8PW
phoenix.carrie@gmail.com | +44 (0) 7977 490122 | www.carriephoenix.com
PROFILE
Engagement and partnership specialist with two decades’ experience across the arts, community development and environmental sectors. Co-Founder and former Executive Director of Natural Habitat, which I grew from a start-up into an established, respected organisation known for its place-based, collaborative approach. Lead consultant on landscape recovery and community engagement projects across Suffolk and Essex, now establishing an independent practice supporting organisations with stakeholder engagement, partnership development and collaborative project design.
Areas of expertise
• Landscape recovery and stakeholder engagement
• Community participation and co-design
• Cross-sector partnership development
• Environmental education and nature connection
• Creative project design and facilitation
• Charity and programme development
WORK
Career break | establishing an independent consultancy
Jul 2026 – Present
Co-Founder & Executive Director | Natural Habitat
Mar 2023 – Jun 2026
Co-founded and led Natural Habitat, an environmental education charity using creative and collaborative approaches to connect people with landscapes, food systems and biodiversity.
Leadership and programmes
• Secured charity status and grew the organisation from start-up to an established, locally respected charity recognised for its progressive, place-based approach.
• Developed Natural Habitat’s distinctive collaborative and participatory methodology, bringing together farmers, educators, artists, ecologists, communities and land managers.
• Led the design and delivery of the flagship Weaving Farms, Land, People & Planet programme.
• Led programmes engaging more than 1,000 participants across schools, communities and farming landscapes.
• Built strategic partnerships with farming clusters, schools, refugee support organisations, environmental charities and local authorities.
Consultancy and engagement work delivered through Natural Habitat
• Lead consultant for stakeholder and community engagement on the Connecting Constable & Gainsborough Landscape Recovery Project.
• Developed cross-sector partnership and engagement strategies supporting CCGC’s landscape recovery initiatives across Suffolk and north Essex.
• Lead consultant on the Diverse Communities, Diverse Crops project in partnership with Barleybird CIC.
Project Development Officer & Lead Artistic Facilitator | Suffolk Artlink
Aug 2015 – Mar 2023
Devising, fundraising and running new, inclusive creative projects. Includes maternity leave 2018–19.
2020 – 2023 Devised, managed and delivered Kirkley Creates / Wild About Kirkley in collaboration with First Light Festival, Suffolk Artlink and The Pantry Project, exploring Kirkley’s identity through its flora and fauna and resulting in a community garden, public works and cross-sector collaborative community workshops.
2021 – 2022 Devised and managed new work for Friends Around the Table, an offshoot of Make, Do & Friends.
2019 – 2021 Creative Director for Make, Do & Friends, a place-based rural project for isolated older adults, using food, nature and craft to build connection.
2018 Trained as a Mental Health Youth First Aider.
2018 Artistic lead, professional development for the Step-Up artists.
2017 – 2018 Devised and initiated the Around the Table project for adult family carers – using food as a sensory tool for rest bite, working with chefs and artist collaborators.
2017 – 2018 Ran and devised new work for the Avenues project for young adult family carers.
2017 – 2018 Devised and ran the Giggle Visit project – for refugee communities, an offshoot of Clown Round
2015 – 2018 Ran and devised new work for the Clown Round project – therapeutic project working with children and young people dealing with ill health and end of life.
2015 – 2016 Ran the Making Spaces module for the JumpstART project – leading artists with learning diversities.
Further project details: suffolkartlink.org.uk/our-work
Freelance Artist 2012 – 2023
Delivering inclusive community projects.
2019 – 2023 The Third Person, an artist collective running site-specific community projects exploring identity, sustainability and nature.
2012 – 2019 Independent projects, contract work (see below and Suffolk Artlink delivery)
EARLIER EXPERIENCE
2015 Set up an art outreach between Barnardos Meadows School, Kent and The Orpheus Centre, Surrey; resident artist at Barnardos Meadows School; Support Worker at the Orpheus Centre.
2014 – 2015 Learning Support, Suffolk Artlink.
2014 – 2015 Studio Manager for Heather & Ivan Morison (UK, Germany and Russia).
2011 – 2013 Artist’s assistant to Heather & Ivan Morison (intermittent).
2013 Artist in Residence, Nes Artist Residency, Skagastrond, Iceland.
2013 Interior Stylist Assistant, Sophie Robinson Interiors.
2012 – 2013 Freelance Prop Maker, Plunge Productions and A-Theme, Sussex.
2008 – 2010 Contemporary Cast Iron Sculpture Symposium Coordinator, Butley Mills Studio, UK and Berllanderi Sculpture Workshop, Wales.
2008 – 2010 Artist’s assistant to Alice Garland (ceramicist, Suffolk), Harvey Hood (sculptor, Wales), Alvin Booth (photographer, NY and France), Garth Boden (painter, France) and Dilys Jackson (sculptor, Wales).
2006 – 2007 Artist in Residence and Educational Coordinator, Franconia Sculpture Park, USA.
2004 – 2006 Artist’s assistant to Brian Alabaster (sculptor, Suffolk), David Chapman of Ancient Arts (Jersey) and goldsmith apprentice to Alexander Davey (Suffolk).
2004 Travelled through India on a photographic expedition.
EDUCATION
2009 – 2012 BA Fine Arts, First Class Honours, University of Brighton, UK
2003 A Levels: Design, English Literature and Psychology, Framlingham College, UK
2001 10 GCSEs, Stradbroke High School, UK
TRAINING
Current Emergency First Aid at Work – Outdoor Pursuits, Level 3, 16hr VTQ
SAFEcic Safeguarding Lead Training for children and young people and vulnerable adults
Enhanced DBS, on the update service
2024 – 2025 Alitus Executive Leadership Programme
2022 – 2023 Recover, Recharge, Renew: Virtual Action Learning
Full UK driving licence
EXHIBITIONS
2022 First Light Festival
2021 First Light Festival
2019 The Cut Open
2015 Brighton, Kultuuur
2013 Skagastrond, Iceland – Nes Artist Residency
2012 University of Brighton gallery – degree show
2011 89 Copenhagen Place, London, Courting the Linesman
2011 University of Brighton gallery
2010 Pepper Pot, Brighton, Two Sleep
2010 Open Studios, Brighton
2009 Sculpture Show, University of Brighton
2008
2007 Franconia Sculpture Park
2007 Symposium of Contemporary Cast Iron, Alabama USA
2006 Sculpture Biennale, Minneapolis USA
2006 ArtWhirl, Minneapolis USA
2006 Night of Fire, Florida USA
2006 – 2009 Touring Iron Maidens exhibition, UK, Wales and USA