An 8th generation Essex legend from place Ockendon with the surname Ockendon. Self-described as a human chipmunk. Paige is the art school lead from TOMA (the other MA). MA level art education in Essex. Taking over from the founder Emma Edmonson (big up!). Paige previously studied there in a previous cohort. The course is designed to be flexible around artists’ lives and overcome the barriers that stop participation in the arts, like money, care, families and time. TOMA is an art school for people from any artistic practice. Previous guest Jo Morrison, the vocal improvising artist, studied there. TOMA is a place to become an artist, and stay an artist. Paige previously worked at Metal in Southend, which is an artistic engagement programme across all arts disciplines. TOMA is a place to build artistic skills, but also gain knowledge, references, and an artistic network through the studies and practice. When you complete the course you are awarded a ceramic sausage on a fork (YES REALLY!) as a symbol of your graduation and made by TOMA ceramicist Richard Baxter. Care, learning and being together to collaborate is the ‘TOMA way’. Paige’s TOMA cohort was during COVID so it became virtual. The curriculum gets built around the people on the course - wanna be a stonemason… no problem! Paige studied fine art, then tried to get a job in art… and after a load of weird jobs she ended up at Metal. The art landscape of Essex suddenly unfolded because of that job. Paige loves connecting people and producing with artists and working with community engagement. She is a cheerleader for projects. Nick talks about acting in Will Norman’s ‘The Oddersey’ shot on iMacs. Paige’s creative superpower is ADMIN - she loves ExCel and spreadsheets! Spreadsheets are the place that art projects can become real and mapped. Paige’s peak working time is 4pm, just in case you want any admin done! Applying for creative project funding is not often in the skillset of creative people. Paige is the producer for Creative Breaktime, working with teachers in Essex to see if creativity can help with teacher retention. Collaboration over competition will make Essex arts stronger. TOMA has a sliding scale of fees to help people apply, and holds 70% of spaces for people from Essex. What are TOMA looking for in applicants? Find out by listening...

Toma on Instagram
Toma website
Paige website
Creative Breaktime

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Funny, creative, and inspirational - OG Are You Creative family member Jaiden aka The Ragga Enforcer stepped into the studio back in March 2026. He’s been helping with the podcast since day one, but also is a creative powerhouse entrepreneur himself. We find out all about it. Nick calls him The Ragga Alan Sugar because he’s unstoppable with his business ideas, drive and hustle. His personality brings together everything he does into a coherent brand of Night Til Dawn. Displaying his roots in his brand is important for him. Jaiden was built in the East End of London, and gained his sense of culture and who he is. Authenticity and being true to yourself is key to him. Jaiden is also a Trustee of Culture Chelmsford and is making a big impact on creativity in the city. When he was 18 he started promoting club nights. Creating spaces with great music and a vibe that can be enjoyed without excessive alcohol or illegal substances. Reggae, ragga, soca, calypso. It’s never too late to learn about new cultures and music - Jaiden pushes for inclusivity for all people, races, and ages at his events. Music is education that can break down cultural barriers and facilitate discovery. His event Ragga Food and Vibes combines music and food in a day time Sunday street party vibe in Hot Box. He’ll cater for 60 to 100 people with Jamaican food. It spun out of putting on block parties from his house for his friends and neighbours, and cooking food, playing music. Sangita LOVES bashment! Jaiden always wants to work his hardest, do his best, and make sure he’s always moving forwards creating stability, security, and opportunity for himself. He is pure resilience and positivity. His background made him grow up fast and he had to take a lot of responsibility as a carer for his ill mother at an early age. He constantly learns new skills through his creative ventures. Talking about code switching and being true to yourself. Jaiden sees everything he can throw himself into as a learnable experience, and loves knowing ‘a little about a lot’. He created Ragga Jaba Punch, a punch drink focusing on natural ingredients (cranberry, carrot juice, tumeric), which is sold in places around Chelmsford. He's now got music, food and drink covered. Jaiden is promoting himself and his brand with funny videos on TikTok.

Night Til Dawn
Ragga Jaba Punch
Ragga Enforcer

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Chloë aka The Copper Cacti is a floral designer from Benfleet, then Hungary, then Southminster, then the final destination of Braintree. She has been obsessed with cacti since she could walk. Cacti is the plural of cactus btw. Chloë looks to be more sustainable in her business, and makes beautiful geometric terrarium centrepieces for weddings, that can live on beyond the special day. Terraria are like mini greenhouses - they can have a mini ecosystem within them, growing their own little world. Layering and the amount of water are very important. Ferns love a terrarium. Terraria can almost live forever. Desert-style cacti terrariums are open systems. Chloë will sometimes add fun little figures sometimes, like Bulbasaur, or Ewoks. These mini worlds are amazing to watch as they grow and develop. Desert terraria need a little more care, occasional misting, but they do thrive on neglect, not over watering. Cacti are not native to Essex - shock! But Chloë grows them and propagates them from cuttings. Adelle thinks all florists are gangsters. Chloë doesn’t do any traditional wedding like white roses, she wants people to get more individual, creative and emo. Chloë will now call her autobiography Me, Myself and Cacti. Chloë made dinosaurs for a dinosaur themed wedding, and added audio roar buttons to them. Chloë talks about the ‘booby cactus’. What would Chloë do for a Little Shop of Horrors wedding? Planning a Viking themed centrepiece. Chloë stays in contact with her couples after building a strong relationship with them planning their wedding flowers. Chloë often works on the same weddings as previous podcast guest Lucy Can’t Dance - like the Wedding Avengers. She loves asymmetry and individuality in plants. Convincing people to trust the creative process. The Copper Cacti started accidentally after Chloë had a mental breakdown and was signed off work, she started making terraria, and ended up with so many she had to sell some… The things you don’t see coming, bring you the most joy. A background in cheffing and catering gave transferable creative skills to Chloë when she started her floristry company. Chloë taught herself floristry from YouTube and having the eye. Building a supportive creative network. Are AI mock-ups making floristry briefs impossible? Pinterest and other sites are full of impossible AI floristry mock-ups that end up on wedding vision boards. Sustainability is important with weddings, to cut waste, and allow the centrepieces and spirit of the wedding to live on afterwards. Guests can take them home. Chloë calls herself a ‘sweaty little flower mechanic’ - her Instagram and social media presence is very honest, unhinged and relatable - perfect marketing. Anthurium flowers look like willies on a plate.

Multi-award winning Adelle (not that one) is back to co-host.

The Copper Cacti

The Copper Cacti on Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
With live sound mixing by Kate Bishop

Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support