MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Classes offered by The ACT Arts Centre are lead by qualified and experienced instructors. Passionate about the skills they teach, they bring their own experiences into the education space to create a fun and engaging learning environment. Click on any of the instructors below to find out more.
ANGIE SAWYER
MUSIC
Angie is the owner and head instructor of Angelic Voices Early Childhood Music and Movement Studio. A passion for music and young children and a gift in performance is what began this business 10 years ago!
Just prior to having her third child, Angie decided it would be a good idea to open and run a business from home. Little did she know, the demand for early childhood music in Maple Ridge was huge and the business took off quicker than she and her husband had ever anticipated!
Along with teaching at daycares and preschools around Ridge Meadows, Angie is excited to be able to offer these wonderfully engaging music classes for young ones at The ACT Arts Centre!
dennis hixson
CERAMICS
“My pottery journey began when I decided to take a pottery class as a break from the rigours of my pre-med science degree in university. I immediately fell in love with clay. After a more than 40-year break, I started taking classes at the ACT in 2019 and that passion for clay was rekindled. I have so enjoyed the supporting ceramic community at the ACT. I greatly admire British potters such as Lisa Hammond which has inspired my work. My goal is to be set free from my tenancy for perfectionism and make pieces that are individual and functional, having fun in the process.
In addition to developing as a ceramic artist, I have had the privilege to be the ceramic technician at the ACT. I love the technical processes such as glaze chemistry and development and kiln firing.
When I am not in the studio, I can be found in the kitchen baking Artisan sourdough bake goods, working in my garden or video chatting with one of my four children or five grandchildren.”
Elena Markelova
WATERCOLOUR ARTIST
Elena is well known for her double exposure animals, nature watercolour paintings, and the detailed city maps – all inspired by magnificent landscapes and engaging wildlife of Canada. She was born and raised in a small town in the middle of Siberia in Russia, and was often painting and drawing. Elena’s mom signed her up for art school when she was only 10 years old. She spent seven years there, then six more at Art University, learning different mediums and techniques while experimenting with subjects and ideas.
After moving to Canada in 2012, Elena was searching for her own style and inspiration. Family trip to Pemberton was a pivotal point in her artistic career – as she saw the very first bear in her life just a few meters away surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, she couldn’t resist the excitement she felt and painted that bear with a landscape inside. Since then nature and the wilderness have become her true love and inspiration. The beauty, peace, and truth she finds there have no equal.
Elena works with watercolour, the most challenging and magical medium, and shares her love and inspires others to paint with it. She's been teaching watercolour workshops and classes around the Lower Mainland for several years and can't wait to bring the joy of watercolour painting into your life!
Emily Sheppard
CERAMICS, INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST
Emily Sheppard is an interdisciplinary artist currently, deeply, immersed in ceramics. With a diploma & BFA, both in fine arts with a focus in 3D materials & sculpture, Emily has a playful touch that resonates in her work. Many years ago, Sheppard’s work switched gears from primarily focusing on 3D work and began a self-propelled deep dive into & exploring functional ceramics & pottery.
“Over the years, I have had many types of studios. A small studio setting a few years back was shared with 2 other sculptural artists that dominated the space. The only part of the shop was a tiny corner by a window with a pottery wheel, so I sat and started throwing. I say self-taught when my students ask, although I did have some great instructors who are pottery masters during my degree. At that time, I was fairly stubborn and uninterested in functional art. Since then, I’ve changed my tune and pottery, has become a method to learn about the materials. There is so much to learn in ceramics and pottery teaches you a lot. Every week I sat at that wheel, re-taught and reminded myself the bits and pieces of things I had forgotten. I started attending workshops and volunteering for all sorts of things clay related. This true key to success in ceramics in my opinion, is determination and don’t stop attitude.”
To summarize, Emily Sheppard is passionate about art. She is driven and loves to share knowledge and techniques she has gleaned over the years. With many years of teaching under her belt she is excited to be invited to teach some classes at the ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge.
Upcoming & for the last year, Emily has been working creating and sculpting the components for a large exhibit of ceramic pieces for another artist named Glenn Lewis who is a long time ceramics legend here in BC. These feature fruits, veggies, birds, dogs and who knows what else. Stay tuned to find out!
Katrina Smith
DANCE
Katrina can not imagine her life without dance. Following in her sister’s footsteps, she began dancing at the young age of 3. Since then her love and passion of dance has continued to grow, ultimately leading to her path of teaching the younger generations. Katrina has been teaching dance for over 8 years, and assisted/student taught beforehand. She has trained in Ballet (Cecchetti), Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Modern, and Hip-Hop. Dance has always been a number one extra curricular activity for Katrina; however, she has also ventured in acting/background work and grew up with piano and vocal training. It is easily noticeable how prominent the performing arts are in her life and she hopes to share this passion with all students. Katrina loves to inspire children of all ages to explore their creativity and expand their knowledge through the movement of dance.
With Katrina’s extensive training she has completed several Cecchetti and CDTA examinations in all genres of expertise. She is currently working on her Licentiate Canadian Dance Teachers Association Examination in the Stage Division.
Lauren Trotzuk
THEATRE
Lauren Trotzuk is an actor, singer, director, playwright, theatre instructor and overall avid musical theatre enthusiast. Some of her favourite acting credits include Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BIV), Cat in the Hat in Seussical (FVGSS), Little Red in Into the Woods (NSLOS) and Jemima in CATS (FCP). Over the last 12 years she has been performing in plays, musicals, operettas, revues, cabarets and concerts all over the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland: from Chilliwack to North Vancouver to White Rock.
When she is not on stage she is managing, directing and writing musicals for her Langley based company: Capricorn Theatre Productions. She will be debuting her new original musical: How To Survive the Apocalypse (Without Really Dying) this upcoming season at the Langley Siloam festival. Lauren is also a member of the Board of Directors of Bard in the Valley and is dedicated to finding new and creative ways to contribute to the performing arts community of Langley.
Lauren has had many years teaching for the ACT, where her classes range from scripted musical theatre classes to fundamental acting and improv courses. Lauren is always committed to stoking that fire of love for theatre in others that she remembers growing in her youth. Lauren is honoured to be spending her time sharing her love for theatre with others and working alongside the talented staff of The ACT.
megan tarris
CERAMICS
Megan has a degree in Design from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and worked as a graphic designer in corporate advertising before finding love in a bucket of mud.
She creates wheel-thrown, functional ceramics, fired in electric and wood kilns. Her work reframes familiar forms in a minimal way, with warm finishes and quiet details.
Megan lives near the forest outside Vancouver with her partner, 3 littles and Harold, the refugee pheasant.
Philippa Glossop
CERAMICS
Philippa is a practicing artist and has been teaching visual art to children, youth and adults for over twenty years. She has taught in public and independent schools and has had fun inspiring creativity in students K through grade 12. She has spent time as an Art Educator for the Kamloops Art Gallery and the ACT Art Gallery coordinating engaging and interactive school tours and workshops for teachers and students.
Currently, she dedicates her time teaching from her studio, offering fun and educational art classes at the ACT and volunteers her time with special needs groups teaching art to children with autism. Philippa earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Education from Queen’s University in 1986, a Masters of Education from Thompson Rivers University in 2014 and Diploma in Special Education in 2020. She lives with her husband and two boys in Maple Ridge.
paige allan
ARTIST
After graduating from Riverside Secondary as the Top Art Student, Paige attended BCIT and received her certificate in graphic design. She then decided she wanted to pursue her passion of Fine Arts at Kwantlen Polytechnic University to increase her skills and knowledge to become an art teacher.
As an instructor at the ACT, she hopes to not only educate children on art history, technical skills and technique, but also encourage them to experiment, be expressive and have fun through various mediums. Paige specializes in drawing and painting, but also has a vast knowledge of different art mediums and previous experience in ceramics, printmaking, graphic design and digital art.
Outside of the ACT she can be found working on her own art projects, spending time outside in nature, playing video games, baking, and hanging out with her cat Winston.
“I hope to inspire and motivate young artists to follow their passion for the Arts. I am always excited to see what they create.”
Sarah Helten
MEDITATIVE MOVEMENT & ART EXPRESSIONS
Sarah is a Mother of two sons, facilitator of mentorship, and arts. She has vast experience in using art for healing, and views art as a valuable resource for building a relationship for authentic self expression. She has training in CBT, DBT, Anxiety, and depression skills, RAD ballet, jazz, free movement, BCRPA Personal Training, and Reiki energy healing. She enjoys hosting weekly meditation circles, creating art, playing in nature with her children, and building community based on love & acceptance. She celebrates one of her greatest strengths is the ability to bring out the unique gifts of others so they can share them with the world.
Sarah McEvoy
DANCE
Sarah Lynn McEvoy, is a 2020 graduate of the Classical stream at George Brown Dance in Toronto, Ontario, a program in affiliation with Canada’s Ballet jörgen. Sarah currently holds her Teaching Certificate #2 through Cecchetti USA and she is also furthering her ballet education working towards her Associate qualifications.
Sarah has extensive training in Ballet, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre and modern dance, but her love for ballet will always outweigh the rest. Sarah hopes to provide a challenging, safe, and enriching learning experience for all of her students and can’t wait to continue to pass on her passion and love for the art of dancing.
Shelly Davies-Conley
EARLY LEARNING VISUAL ARTS
Shelly has a background in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching art based programs at the ACT Arts Centre since 2004. She graduated from Douglas College in 1985 and further studied at Seneca College in Ontario. Shelly pursued a career in Ontario working in daycare for 14 years until she moved back to BC with her husband and two sons in 1999.
Over the years, Shelly has expanded her education in the arts by experiencing hands on opportunities with different art mediums. She has continued to provide programs for children from preschooler to school age at the ACT, as well as after school art classes in public schools. Shelly offers a creative enriched learning environment which give children the opportunity to express themselves, learn, and grow through her art based learning programs.
“Through these hands on opportunities I experienced, I’ve learned the appreciation of art and how much it plays a part in the development of a child as a whole person. Seeing the joy on their faces when creating a masterpiece of their very own, speaks volumes for their self-esteem and growth. This is why I enjoy providing the art based learning programs at the ACT.”
Tina C. Ranger
PHOTOGRAPHY
“As soon as I could hold a pencil I drew, and as soon as I could hold a camera I took photos. One of my guiding philosophies is to be a good observer, to practice and hone these skills, to have your art and photography express what you see and feel in the moment, to be inspired.“
Tina has been an educator for 25 years teaching young people and adults in fine art and photography among other subjects. She enjoys seeing her students knowledge and creativity grow along with their enthusiasm for artistic expression. She has been an active participant in art clubs, a continuous learner of photography and arts. She has a love of nature, her dog, horse, fitness, family and friends, and finding time for that and more.
Trena Hollands
DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS
Trena graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2020 with an MFA (distinction) in Illustration and holds a BFA from Emily Carr University. Her graduate degree focused on graphic novel creation and development, exploring gothic and surrealist narratives. She has had the pleasure of working as a storyboard artist on independent film productions and costume/character illustrator on multiple iatse productions.
Trena is thrilled to be sharing her love of character, comic and graphic novel development with students at The ACT. She can often be spotted in the wild, with a sketchbook and pen attempting to capture a moment.
Talieh Vafadary
CERAMICS
Talieh Vafadary discovered her passion for ceramics in grade 10 when trying a ceramics class at her high school. She continued to study ceramics through university which remained the one constant as she studied at 4 different universities in the US, eventually earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Ceramic Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Talieh moved to Canada in 2016, and now lives in Metro Vancouver with her husband and 2 children.
Talieh mainly utilizes wheel thrown pottery and sculptural elements to explore concepts at the core of humanity. She draws on her own reality to analyze how her limited experiences can relate to others and ideally offer an empathetic perspective. Her work often represents relationships of an individual to their self and others. Examples of these relationships include motherhood, memory, trauma responses, and one's perception in society.