Our Mission:
Creative arts for everyone, inspiring communities for the glory of God
CHELTENHAM CHRISTIAN ARTS is a Trust with Registered Charity status (1164117) which offers a wide range of Christian faith-inspired arts projects annually at our festivals.
Our AIM is to provide an opportunity for the town’s churches to come together in celebration of our artistic Christian heritage through all the contemporary and traditional arts and share the vibrancy, the joy and the colour of this God-given creative expression with the local community in Gloucestershire and outreach followers from further afield either online or at LIVE events. We also invite International Stars to perform, exhibit artwork and to lead workshops.
Meet the Team
Behind the scenes of the Christian Arts Festival in Cheltenham are the Charity Trustees of Cheltenham Christian Arts who have organised large scale festivals in 2016, 2017 & 2019, themed Treasure, Wings, Encounters and Gospel24, and one day community festivals ‘Festival of Stars’ focusing on West Cheltenham in 2018, Whaddon in 2021, South Cheltenham in 2022 and Dalkeith Residential Care Home gardens in 2024. The Trustees decided in 2020 to hold events throughout the year instead of over an intensive 3 week period.
During Lockdown, CAF have presented an online LIVING ROOM FEST! Two streams for adults and children in 2020 and online Creative Workshops, The Inspires and Octopus (kids) Sessions, in 2021. They have held other events: EDEN, Restoring Paradise, Art Competition & Exhibitions in the Garden’s Gallery, Cheltenham, Music in the Park, Pittville Park, Cheltenham and an Arts Extravaganza and Demos in Pittville Park, Cheltenham for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Shakespeare at Pip & Jim’s, Faith Exhibitions in the Hub Gallery, Christ Church. More detail on Our Story page.
The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester – Patron
Bishop Rachel sums up the 2 hugely successful Festivals in 2016 & 2017: ‘I have witnessed a wonderful showcase where creative artists share their faith through many expressions such as song, visual art, drama and storytelling. The events have been enjoyed by a wide range of audiences from different faith backgrounds and those of no faith who respect the Christian invitation to everyone to celebrate, explore and discover more of life in many joyful and vibrant ways.’
Rupert Kaye – Chair
Rupert Kaye is a primary school headteacher, Christian and performer. Rupert loves to bring together people of all ages from a wide range of backgrounds to write, jam, perform and enjoy art and entertainment. He is committed to working with adults and children of all faiths and none to promote inclusion, tolerance, equality, harmony and fun. Rupert lives in Bath, works and worships in Frome, and looks forward to spending more time in Cheltenham!
Nikki Seville – Founder Trustee
Nikki organises various artistic and charitable events across Cheltenham – she was Coordinator for Cheltenham Prayer for Schools Network for 5 years and organises ‘Creative Arts’ events for the Diocese of Gloucester. She takes an Open the Book Team into local primary schools to re-enact bible stories in assemblies for primary school children. She is a youth leader for a local church, leads a homegroup for the ‘beautifully mature.’
Beck Donaldson – Founder Trustee
Beck is a founding Trustee of Cheltenham Christian Arts Festival and Journey Through Conflict. She works with artists and musicians to produce a diverse range of inspiring performances throughout the UK. Former organ scholar and Theology tutor at University of Gloucestershire, Beck leads worship in churches throughout the Cotswolds where she also presents free classical music coffee concerts.
Myn Cotterill – Trustee and Treasurer
Myn is a qualified accountant with an Arts degree who works for a local charity, and can’t help volunteering for good causes.
Deborah Harrison – Trustee
Debs is a full time professional Sculptor who specialises in Stone. Based at Gloucester City Works where she also takes Carving Courses and welcomes commissions. Previous roles include: Local Preacher, Westminster Creative Community Coordinator, Youth and Children’s Worker, Cathedral School Chaplain and Primary School Teacher. MA in Marketing and Degree in Biological Sciences from Birmingham University.
Bean Baker – Trustee
Bean is Creative Director; Head Of Services & Younger Generations at Elim Church Cheltenham.
Worship leader, songwriter and musician. He is passionate about creativity and how it can be used to draw people into God’s presence. Alongside leading the worship and tech team, Bean also heads up our media and creative department.
He also leads the Bean Baker Band ‘ Whether playing small, intimate gigs or large, crowd filling ones Bean uses music to meet people where they are at. Having enjoyed playing and performing music since he was young he has long known that music could change his life. The band embrace the weird and wonderful world of gigs from small cafe style events to playing at Big Church Day Out, New Wine, Latitude, Soul Survivor, Naturally Supernatural and every where in between.
Charles Campbell – Trustee resigned 2025
Charles was born in Gloucester and has a passion for the City’s wellbeing. Charles comes from a very musical family and is a keen guitarist who was brought up with a Pentecostal church experience and plays in his church worship team. Charles also happens to be the Senior Pastor of the Church of God of Prophecy in Gloucester and loves engaging with the community there. Charles is an avid believer that the gifts we have been blessed with are to be shared with and to bless others.
Phil Summers Trustee
Phil is a Storyteller, short film maker, actor and fine artist. He has performed up and down the country in theatres and schools as well as exhibiting his paintings in various collaborative exhibitions. Phil regularly leads workshops in storytelling. He is also Methodist Church Minister.
Anthony Oliver – Fundraising Consultant
Anthony is an experienced Fundraising Consultant working with some amazing charities. Skilled in Nonprofit Organisations, Strategic Planning, Capital Campaigns offering both short and long term fundraising support. Experience includes working for disability, education, arts charities and Christian/Church projects.
Anthony has supported Cheltenham Christian Arts from the beginning in 2015 advising on charitable status, our constitution, case of support, social media, fundraising and sponsorship.
He sat on the board of Trustees from 2017 – 2020 and remains very much part of the team.