BLACKPOP - Key Persons
Abbie, a former Hong Kong resident, is the newest member of the team, heading up our orders and dispatch room. She is a trained silversmith and enjoys Border Morris Dancing in her free time. When she was younger, her dream was to be an opera singer or a nun (inspired by the brilliant Sound of Music). Abbie is a lover of David Bowie and was once sung to onstage by the incredible Ray Davies. A fun fact about Abbie is that she is Banana-phobic!
Kate is a Studio Assistant with Blackpop and is our digital wiz! She trained in textiles at the University of Edinburgh and has always loved interior design. Growing up in the Peak District, she likes to go walking and running in her free time, particularly in the gorgeous countryside outside of Sheffield. Kate is inspired by her friends, who she finds incredible and who have supported each other since school.
Lily is Blackpop's multi-skilled Studio Assistant. As well as being artistically creative, she is extremely musically gifted, having studied classical saxophone at The Royal Northern College of Music. Lily is super heathy and in her spare time she runs, cycles and walks in the Peak District. She enjoys intimate gigs - her favourite being a folk night in Zennor, Cornwall. Ooh and she cooks the best lemon drizzle cake!
Job Titles:
- Design Director
- Founder
- Its Design Director
Maxine is the founder of Blackpop and its Design Director. At an early age, she wanted to be a Formula 1 Racing Driver (world champion of course!). Instead she worked as a hairstylist to the stars from the age of 15-28. Maxine then studied at the University of Westminster in film, photography and video and later became a lecturer. Alternative design has always been Maxine's forte, as she once decorated her bedroom walls with newspapers, as expected from someone whose icon is the legendary Patti Smith.
Job Titles:
- Head of Business Development, National Portrait Gallery
"The Decorex judges were particularly impressed by the collaboration between Blackpop and the National Portrait Gallery. In taking their inspiration from Tudor paintings, Blackpop have created an exciting, relevant collection that is both traditional in reference and contemporary in colour palette. Intelligent and sensitive designing."
Paula was born in Nottingham, along with the likes of the brilliant Vicky McClure. She has a passion for dancing [ having once trained in classical ballet] and never refuses a cup of tea. As a teenager she decided to switch her creative path to photography, eventually graduating from the University of Derby. Paula's [not so secret] guilty pleasure is watching any kind of detective series [ in fact Vera has nothing on her powers of detection!] Her best live gig was seeing the amazing George Micheal. She loves everything about living and working in Wirkworth!
Paula designed her first work for Blackpop as part of the acclaimed Paradise Collection, which launched in 2019 and took its inspiration from the epic gothic poem 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton. It is with all this creative energy and organisational experience, that she now directs at Blackpop.
Job Titles:
- Brand Director, Decorex International
"Blackpop Studios has designed a range that is nothing short of breathtaking. While they look like they could have been stripped from the walls of stately homes there is something uniquely modern and fresh about them too."