David:

David was born in London in 1950 and brought up in the Sussex Downland in Lewes. After studying at Durham University and the College of St. Matthias, Bristol, David spent 27 years in full-time teaching in Cornwall and Kent. For the last 15 of those years he was Head of Modern Languages at Aylesford School near Maidstone. In 1999, David "jumped without a parachute", moved to the New Forest area, and took the risk of trying to make a living from art and craft - backed up by some supply teaching and various part-time jobs. Currently, David drives a minibus (and occasionally teaches) for Durlston Court Preparatory School, and makes picture frames for "The Artist Centre" in New Milton.
Since about 1980, in off-duty moments, David has produced hand-stitched, made-to-measure, leather footwear. Together with Deborah (a hand-loom weaver at the time) he was a founder and director of "Cornish Enterprises Ltd.", and helped to run the company's craft shop in Falmouth. The need to have a good quality catalogue for both shoes and woven goods led to the purchase of a decent camera, an interest in photography and, eventually, to a monochrome darkroom. This, in turn, led to exploration of other ways of creating images, such as block printing, and then, with the advent of computers and photo-quality printers, to digital inkjet prints.
David's work is often inspired by his photographs. Many pieces are made directly from them. The original photo may be manipulated, merged with others, or altered to produce a finished image which might be hyper-real, surreal or semi-abstract. Combining photography with other mediums (pastels, gold and silver leaf, pressed flowers, driftwood, etc.) enables David to explore themes loosely linked to the inter-relatedness of mankind and nature, and influenced by ancient spirituality.
David is one of the founder members of "Rabble", a Folk Theatre Company based in Kent. He has been involved as a performer for many years with street theatre, mumming plays and traditional English music and dance. This, too, is an influence on his work.

Deborah:

Deborah's paintings and etchings are often an exploration of a personal mythology focusing on ancient, nature-based spirituality. She is equally happy working in oils or acrylics. She frequently includes symbolic creatures and shapes within her work and enjoys developing ideas about the interaction between human beings and their land or seascape.
Deborah welcomes the opportunity to paint portraits. The subject must, however, be prepared for several sittings, as she only makes limited use of photographs, preferring to work from life in order to capture the essence of the person.
Deborah creates drypoint etchings using the less familiar "Toray" plates. These were originally developed for commercial offset litho printing, and they remove the need for resin and acid in the process. These etchings are often hand-coloured using watercolours or inks.
Deborah studied briefly at Eastbourne School of Art in the late sixties and took an Honours Degree in Art (with a PGCE attached) at Canterbury Christchurch College in the early nineties. Between the two, she produced and brought up two sons (with some input from David, of course!) - both amazing works of art in their own right. She has worked as a hand-loom weaver, making wall-hangings and designing and producing cloth for garments, place-mats and rugs. Together with David, she was a founder and director of "Cornish Enterprises Ltd." and helped to run the shop. Deborah has illustrated a book: "The Wheel of the Wiccan Year" by Gail Duff, published in 2002 by Rider Books. In addition to teaching Art in two secondary schools, she has worked in several infant and primary schools as a class teacher. She has organised and led many art and craft workshops for both children and adults. Along with David and her two sons, Deborah is one of the founder members of "Rabble". She has been involved with traditional English music, dance, mumming plays and street theatre since 1986.

Celia:

Celia was born in London in 1953, the daughter of a German Jewish woman, most of whose family had escaped to England, and an English artist.   She was accepted at the British School of Osteopathy in London in 1973. She completed her training in 1977, and went to live and work in Falmouth, Cornwall. There she joined forces with Stanley Holdich in his Practice.  In 1990, after her mother’s death,  a longing to travel again was too strong, and she moved to Bristol for the next 5 years. From there she travelled round the world,  settling in Auckland, New Zealand between 1994 and 2004.
                   At the end of her BSO training, she encountered Cranial Osteopathy, which she felt was such a profound form of treatment. She trained in it immediately, helping to tutor in the early 80’s.  She also explored the Upledger trainings, where she studied the SER process (Somato-Emotional Release) in 1993, and in 2007 she completed her training in the Biodynamic approach of Cranio-Sacral Therapy, with the Resonance Trainings team.
Celia feels her ‘real’ education and expansion has come  through travelling over the years, initially to France & the States, then round Europe, North Africa and the Sahara, and to India. A love of multi-cultural diversity was nurtured, which has increased with her love of NZ, and the Maori culture, where she lived  until 2004.  Indigenous culture warms her heart the most, be that Native American, Maori, Indian, Hawai’ian, Aboriginal Australian, African, Tibetan or Egyptian. It is the music and art of these cultures that inspire her, as well as World Cinema.
                   But it was her father, Richard who instilled in her a life-long interest in spiritual matters. This has taken her beyond the intellectual knowledge that he gave her, to seeking Knowledge, or the experience of her true self, and to her life-long Master, Maharaji, whom she sees whenever she can. This connection has not prevented her from her eclectic exploration of other living Masters, but rather has been her foundation. In 2007, she created a beautiful Quilt, made with materials from her travels, and pictures of Masters, known and lesser known – it now hangs over the Buddha in the Boscombe Tibetan shop meditation room.
 In 1984,  she began an unusual 2-year experiential training in Humanistic Psychology. She then discovered Rebirthing,  and felt this was her way – as it involves use of the Breath. This makes this therapy very powerful, as it has a physiological component, where body-mind cellular memories are able to loosen and release. This can lead to transformation,  to a spiritual experience of self in the Universe, as well as to  a real expansion of awareness.
                   Celia is occasionally involved in the Artemis Theatre Company, and in 2007 was the Purple Snail in the Play/ Rock Opera, “Them Bones”!
                   Currently, her inner training  continues in the world of Healing, and psychic development.  She is a member of the “Lightworkers” group.  Also, she is waiting to be practically involved in working with children and dolphins,  using CST. This is such a perfect combination of several of her skills and loves, including diving. This will take her to Brasil, or the Bahamas (we’re not sure where yet), for 2-3 weeks at a time perhaps twice a year. Very exciting !!!
Celia is delighted to be connected with Moontree, as the therapeutic aspect is so beautifully interwoven with the artistic world.  Deborah and David have created a really beautiful space, and environment to work in, that people love to come to.  It’s good to be in Boscombe, being part of a team of people who are raising the vibration here, in this interesting part of Bournemouth, so close to the sea.