The Vision

The Maker Series, is  a project that was born out of a deep love for Northern Devon, traditional techniques, modern skills and the desire to inspire the local community. Jessica Pearson, the founder of this initiative, has been tirelessly working to capture the essence of Northern Devon Makers through her films, photographs and interviews. She has been able to showcase the stories of these Makers and how they make a living through their passions in rural and coastal Devon. At The Maker Series, we believe in connecting Makers with the local youth and community to create awareness about creative self-employment. We are committed to supporting current Makers by fostering connections that offer support, promotion and guidance. Our podcast offers a diverse range of audio interviews with Makers who share their insights on how they make a living from their creativity. Our membership program provides even more in-depth tips and tools to help build a successful creative business. We strive to inspire and empower our community to pursue their passions and contribute to a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurship in the Northern Devon region.

Jessica Pearson

Founder of the North Devon Maker Series // Filmmaker, photographer and interviewer.

Jess has grown up and lived in North Devon all her life. She became ill at the age of 15 and consequently found her passion for film. Film was a medium through which she communicated, whilst she lost her voice to a rare autoimmune illness, Myasthenia Gravis. Being ill has given Jess the perspective on how she wants to live her life; in North Devon whilst making a living through film. The North Devon Maker Series is a long-standing passion of Jess’ and she hopes that this project will help people connect and wake up to the talent and skill that North Devon has to offer.

 www.shimnixfilms.co.uk

Musicians

As a filmmaker, music is an integral part of my work. I spend a considerable amount of time choosing the perfect pieces of music to complement my films. In fact, the process of selecting music sometimes takes longer than the actual editing of the film itself. Working with talented musicians from North Devon has been an incredible experience for me. I have commissioned several pieces of music for the North Devon Maker Series, and it has been a journey of trust and discovery. This collaboration has pushed me to work in a new way, where I now edit my films so that music can be added afterwards. The addition of music elevates the emotional impact of the films and helps to immerse the viewer in the magical process of the Maker. I am grateful to the musicians who have contributed to making these films effective and beautiful.

North Devon has a special draw for those who seek to live and work in a place defined by its rugged land,
expansive ocean, and open space.

Each Maker within this project lives and works in North Devon. North Devon sets a pace for people; there is space, long stretches of rugged land and a coastline, which is met by a vast ocean. This draws certain people to make a life in North Devon and these people have carved their own way of making a living from their true passion. Every Maker has their unique way of living and working in North Devon. For example, before retiring from his boat charter business, Clive Pearson made his living by crafting pots through the winter months and then emerging from his workshop in spring to start up his charter boat company, taking passengers, fishermen and divers to Lundy.

north devon

North Devon has a special draw for those who seek to live and work in a place defined by its rugged land, expansive ocean, and open space. The Makers highlighted have found their own way of making a living from their passion, carving out a unique lifestyle that suits them. 

“What's fascinating is that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving this balance, and that's precisely what the Maker Series aims to explore. Through these films, photographs and interviews I hope to inspire others and provide insights into how people in North Devon harness their creative skills to make a living.” - Founder Jess Pearson

North Devon photos by Hettie Pearson Photography