About Ellie

Get in touch with Ellie
+447791205425
ellierobinsoncarter@gmail.com

Ellie is a Creative Dementia Practitioner, Researcher and Consultant based in Plymouth (UK). She is a specialist in using creative practice to enable people with dementia and intergenerational groups to connect to themselves and others around them, fostering empathy, building belonging and challenging disconnection in our society.

Through embodying a co-creative approach, Ellie’s projects are shaped by those who participate: this is reflected by the variety of media used and forms the projects take. From photography, printmaking, letter-writing and painting to creating community events and conferences, Ellie is skilled at creating the opportunity for connection to spark between people through creative communication.



 

Working internationally, nationally and locally, Ellie’s projects are rooted in memory and association with place, asserting what people are capable of when given the right frameworks to work within. Her projects are designed to a high-standard, empowering the participants in their professionalism. Through Ellie’s attention to detail and design, fostered during her MA Illustration: Authorial Practice, participants are celebrated as artists in their own right. 

Ellie’s research involves using creative methods - such as The Photobook Project - to empower people with dementia to share their perspectives and experiences. In January 2024 Ellie began a PhD by Published Works at University of Hull which will consolidate her research around illustration as a tool for illumination, telling stories and igniting connection for individuals living with dementia. She also consults on research projects related to dementia, intergenerational activity and older people. 

Ellie’s current roles include: Founding Artistic Director of The Photobook Project, Creative Spaces Project Manager at Sensory Trust, Online Tutor on MSc Dementia at University of Hull and Chair of “Only Connect!”

A timeline of Ellie’s work 

2024

Exhibition of Wild About Calstock - a commission by Calstock Parish’s Restoring Nature Group with local primary school children and Sensory Trust’s Walk and Laugh Group, making iteration 21 of The Photobook Project


Began PhD by Published Works at University of Hull: “You help me to become more clear about how I express myself, you help me be an expert”: Illustration as a tool for illumination, telling stories and igniting connection for individuals living with dementia.

Paper ‘The Photobook Project: Empowerment through creativity’ published in Journal of Dementia Care, with feature on the front cover

2023

Consultant for The Linking Network, supporting the development and delivery of a Dementia Ambassador programme for secondary schools in Bradford (UK)

Commissioned by Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange to deliver an intergenerational project with Sensory Trust’s Paul Nature Group and Newlyn Primary School, creating iteration 21 of The Photobook Project 


Commissioned by Calstock Parish’s Restoring Nature Group to deliver Wild About Calstock with local primary school children and Sensory Trust’s Walk and Laugh Group, making iteration 21 of The Photobook Project 

Speaker at Alzheimer Bulgaria Conference 2023, promoting MSc Dementia at University of Hull 

Selected for The Relationship Project’s Convening the Conveners: A Retreat. See here for a report about the two days 

International residency with Dementia Dogs, a project run by Alzheimer Bulgaria and Every Dog Matters EU - funded by Daughters of the Daily Special


Awarded funding from Headstart Kernow to work with Callington Community College and the Walk and Laugh Group at Sensory Trust, delivering the 15th iteration of The Photobook Project

Speaker at the 52nd Annual Conference of the Britisth Society of Gerontology 

Creative Director for Homes that Care Project with MA Illustration at University of Plymouth

Exhibition with Butterflies Memory Loss Support Group featuring The Photobook Project’s 14th collection Sensory Stories, in partnership with University of Hull and funded by The Ideas Fund and Wellcome

Mentor at The Photographer’s Gallery, London

Amanze awarded Honourable Mention at Covent Garden Film Festival 

Speaker at Ginkgo Forum - Foundation in Art and Design, Truro and Penwith College 


2022

Embarked on international fellowship Starling Collective with Giving Tuesday.



Surpassed Crowdfunder UK target to deliver The Photobook Project  with 10 care homes across the UK

Started as AL at Plymouth University, BA Illustration 

Talk at Kingston on MA Illustration: “This, for me now, is part of my DNA”: A Socially Engaged Practice

Article in Issue 2 The Southwester. Click here for more information 

Featured on Portrait series of The People’s Republic of South Devon. Click here to read or listen 

Broker on Care Home Friends and Neighbours Project at Sensory Trust, run by The Linking Network and My Home Life England 

Exhibition The Photobook Project at Exeter Phoenix, displaying photographs and books from across the 7 years of the project. 8th September - 10th October. Click here to find out more


Directed and organised “Only Connect!” Conference 2022: an international symposium about the benefits of creative intergenerational and inclusive practice and research 

Amanze screened at film festivals Go Mental (Berlin), Mental (Lisbon) and Introduce London


Invited by It’s Nice That magazine for an Opinion Piece. You can read this by clicking here

Interviewed by Frankie Magazine about The Photobook Project, released in print and online across the globe. See the blog page to read the full article


Hosted Jaroslava Strakova from University of Prague as part of her Erasums internship. Jarka supported with graphic design, exhibition curation, communtiy engagement and other creative tasks for The Photobook Project

Expanded The Photobook Project team to include Creative Content Producer - Rachel Sved - and Creative Engagement Producer - Kathryn Jennings, thanks to funding from Real Ideas, Cultivator Cornwall and The Cares Family

Awarded funding from Headstart Kernow to work with the Lighthouse Community Centre, Sir James Smith’s Secondary School and Camelford Memory Cafe as part of The Photobook Project 

Online Tutor for MSc Dementia at University of Hull. Modules include: Living Well with Dementia, Dying Well with Dementia, Systems & Ecologies and Dissertation

Became a Governor for Stoke Climsland and Calstock Primary Schools

The Photobook Project became a CIC

2021

Ambassador for The Creative Health Project with Arts Well, covering Launceston and the Tamar Valley (Cornwall)

Awarded funding from the Ideas Fund to work with Butterflies (Hull) and MSc Dementia to deliver The Photobook Project and create an evidence-base for the benefits for people living with dementia 

Awarded In-Residence with the Inclusivity Project, creating an evidence-base for carers’ involvement in The Photobook Project 

Socially Engaged Creative Consultant for iGen, Evidence Synthesis Review with University of Exeter and University of Sheffield. Visit Ellie’s blog page to read a blog post and listen to a podcast by the team. 

Awarded Creative Investment Grant from Cultivator to create a publication about The Photobook Project and towards AMANZE film

Awarded funding from Arts 4 Dementia for AMANZE film

Keynote speaker: 2nd International Webinar on Dementia and Alzheimer's Rehabilitation, "My Dementia Life Matters"

Commissioned by Art Licks to deliver Together Apart (The Photobook Project), funded by Ryedale’s Creative Economy Fund. See the project page here

Creative Development Workshop for Cultivator Clients. Focus: Collaboration and Power

Visiting Lecturer on BA Drawing, Falmouth University. Focus: Residencies

Sensory Trust: Care Home Friends and Neighbours, an intergenerational project connecting 10 care homes and 10 schools across Cornwall. Supported by My Home Life and The Linking Network, funded by Dunhill Medical Foundation. Click here to read more

Supervisor for The Reader project, MA Illustration ‘Illustration and Mental Health’ at Camberwell UAL

Awarded place on Multiplier Programme by Cares Family, funded by UnLtD (130 applied, 10 places). Includes £10,000 funding for “My Dementia Life Matters” project, to create training package for The Photobook Project, coaching with Iona Lawrence of Jo Cox Foundation, a film made about the project and groundbreaking workshop programme. Click here to find out more

Online Tutor on Living Well with Dementia module on Dementia MsC at University of Hull. Click here to read more about the programme 

Community Engagement Lead for Grays Wharf (Penryn, Cornwall) projects Moving Landscapes and Mesh, Loop & Line

Awarded funded at Sensory Trust by National Lottery to work with artist Naomi Hannam on intergenerational project A Forest of Hope wih Sensory Trust groups and Constantine Primary. See Ellie’s blog for more information


2020

Paper publsihed in Journal of Illustration ‘Creativity, community and connections: Empowering people living with dementia through illustrative practice’

Speaker at 12th International Dementia Conference: Transforming Care and Communities, Engaging Dementia.  Dublin. ‘The Photobook Project: A creative framework empowering people living with dementia and their wider communities’

Awarded artist opportunity as part of SYNETHESIA with Cultivator and Plymouth University.

Awarded funding from FEAST Cornwall with Cornwall Community Foundation and Callington Memory Cafe to deliver Callington’s Creative Connections with Callington Community College and Callington Memory Cafe

Started as Online Tutor on MSc Dementia at University of Hull

“Until Next Time” exhibited as part of Surface Gallery’s online exhibition titled Personal Space

Awarded funding from Race and Equality Foundation to deliver My Life Matters project with Dementia Action Alliance for Black and Ethnic Minority Communities and Talk Dementia

Completed project “Until Next Time” with photographer and friend Hannah Wright, to be featured in Kresen Kernow museum collections as part of lockdown in Cornwall

Winner of Cultivator Grant to attend Funding Bid Writing Course with Christina Poulton Creative, Arts Well mentorship and Arts Well Funding Bid Writing Workshop

Completed International Certificate in Intergenerational Practice Edition 5 by Generations Working Together and University of Granada

Winner of Cultivator Grant to complete International Certificate in Intergenerational Practice, Generations Working Together

Awarded funded from FEAST Cornwall’s Re-Ignition Fund to work with artist Naomi Hannam to create activity packs for Sensory Trust groups

2019

Speaker at lllustrating Mental Health, University of Worcestor. “Pass the Baton!”

Started “Only Connect!” Network with Peter Daniels

Speaker at Ageing in Place Conference, London

“Pass the Baton!” residency in Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan with Run Tomorrow project. Funded by Daiwa Foundaton, September 2019

Conference organiser in partnership with Falmouth University titled “Only Connect!” A community symposium of Creative Intergenerational Practice and Research. Funded by FEAST, Invest Cornwall, Arts Council, Daiwa Foundation & Cornwall Council. Taking place in July 2019

Observations in Nature Exhibition at Potager Garden, Constantine. As part of Sensory Trust, funded by the Arts Council England

Winner of Creative Investment Grant from Cultivator, Cornwall, to speak at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam & 12th International Conference on Alzeimer Rehabilitation, Stockholm

Winner of grant from Jean’s Dementia Fund, Penryn Memory Cafe, supporting attendance for international conferences (stated above)

Convenor & Plenary Speaker at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam. “Creativity, Community & Connections: Empowering people with dementia through artistic practice”

Speaker at ‘Chaos’ forum, Falmouth University. “Hello Neighbour!”

Published “Hello Neighbour!” with Atlantic Press Books


2018

Exhibitor at Seeing Voices, as part of Night English poem at the Poly, Falmouth

Exhibitor of “Hello Neighbour!” at “So you think you know where you’re going?” at Enys Gardens, Penryn. Curated by Cultivator, Cornwall

Exhibition at Studio E, Falmouth of “Observations at Ashridge Field School” with Amy Goodwin. Funded by Cultivator, Cornwall

Visiting Lecturer on Architecture BA Falmouth University, 2nd year

Awarded grant from Awards for All (Big Lottery) to run ‘Passing the Parcel’ with Penryn Memory Cafe & Penryn College, with Sally Crabtree

Artist in residence at Humanitas, Deventer titled ‘Hello Neighbour!”. Funded by the Arts Council International Development Fund

At Sensory Trust, awarded funding from Arts Council England to roll out ‘Observations in Nature’ with 4 dementia-friendly nature based groups in Cornwall 

Illustrator of By Orchestral Waters, by June Moore. Published by Atlantic Press Books

Attended & ran photography and Oulipo writing workshops for a group of artists at Ashridge Field School, Devon. Resulted in “Observations at Ashridge Field School”

Lecturer at Manchester School of Art on ‘Contextual Practice’, BA Illustraton & Graphic Design

Winner of Graduate Start up Programme, Cultivator

Awarded funding from Moveable FEAST to host conference at Falmouth University in July 2019


2017

Exhibitior & Winner of ‘Hope & Renewal’ Photography Competition, Exeter

Created “Observations by Walking into Art” with Cambridge-based group for people living with dementia and their carers. Funded by Awards for All

Exhibitior & Speaker at Embodied Cartographies, Fringe Arts Bath. “Observations by the Happy Wanderers”

Speaker at ‘Marking Domains’ Conference ICA. “Pokemon Go: The Monstrous Transitory Space”

Speaker at ‘The Monstrous Forum’ Falmouth University. “Pokemon Go: The Monstrous Transitory Space”

Speaker at ‘Beyond Words’ Conference, Plymouth University. “Why are we going around in circles?”

Awarded funding from Moveable FEAST to work with Sally Crabtree, award-winning poet

Artist in residence ‘Zamdam’ with Sally Crabtree. Amsterdam

Associate Lecturer at Manchester School of Art on ‘Contextual Practice’, BA Illustration & Animation

Visiting Lecturer at Falmouth University, MA Illustration: Authorial Practice. Running tutorials, workshops and delivering lectures

Volunteer with the Sensory Trust, with the ‘Happy Wanderers’: walking group for people living with dementia and their carers


2016

Speaker at the International Illustration Conference ‘Shaping the View’, Edinburgh College of Art. “Why are we going around in circles?”

MA Illustration Show & Award for Outstanding Studentship. An exhibition displaying Ellie’s illustration practice at Penryn Memory Cafe, the Sensory Trust & Sophie’s Project with Violeta Noy

Workshop at Falmouth’s ‘Blue’ Illustration Forum with Katie Jones Barlow. “Blulipo”

Completed MA Illustration: Authorial Practice, Falmouth University. Distinction 

Completed internship with Atlantic Press Books, Falmouth. Included: supporting artists and writers in the design of their books, marketing & social media, representing the press at national book fairs


2015

Book-binding workshop, Falmouth University

Exhibitor at Bologna University Exhibition. ‘Stitch in Time Saves Nine’, as part of Sophie’s Project with Violeta Noy

Opened Penryn Memory Cafe as part of practice based research on MA Illustration: Authorial Practice

Exhibitor of Sophie’s Project at MA Illustration: Authorial Practice show, with Violeta Noy

Story Glory, Group Leader - delivering after-school creative writing workshops to primary school children in Cornwall


2014

Began internship with Atlantic Press Books, Falmouth

Began MA Illustration: Authorial Practice, Falmouth University

Graduated from BA English & Philosophy, University of York. 2.1

Awarded the York Award: An employability certificate of University of York that accredits the work experience, volunteering & personal interests undertaken

Set up In-between Collective, York. Art collective with three other artists: Owen Dalton, Alice Kewellhampton & Imogen Lacey. 2 exhibitions: ‘Memory Project’, with York Memory Cafe (funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, exhibited at Orillo Studios, York) and ‘Place’ (exhibited at Bison Coffee Shop, York)

Gallery Explainer at Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery, as part of “Walk On” exhibition

Museum Educator at Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery, creating and delivering workshops with various groups in the community


2013

Completed Gold Duke of Edinburgh: involved 5 day expedition in the Swiss Alps, volunteering at local Farmers Market for 3 years & 5 day trip to Porthpean Outdoor Centre for Year 7 students


2012

Leader of Harmony Cafe, York. A monthly event for people living with dementia and their carers in the local community


2011

Began BA English & Philosophy, University of York

Completed Foundation in Art & Design, Falmouth University, Distinction


2010

Began Foundation in Art & Design, Falmouth University

Completed A-levels: Art A, English A, Geography A, Biology B. Callington Community College