About Us

Jamie Polk – Founder & Director

Having left his job as a fund manager at the turn of the Millennium in search of a new challenge, Jamie’s life took a drastic turn when he broke his neck in a diving accident leaving him paralysed from the chest down. Since then he has followed the principle of making the best of all opportunities.

Over recent years his walls have been filled by an eclectic range of art, sourced from artists and galleries that have caught his eye and imagination. He sees the Animal Art Fair as a terrific prospect. “It is fantastically exciting to find great talent and to be able to showcase it direct to the buying public.”

Barnaby Parker - Founder & Director

After graduating with an Art History degree from Manchester, Barnaby was briefly distracted from the art world by the lure of headhunting in the City where he founded and successfully floated Hydrogen Group on AIM in 2006. His shared vision for the Animal Art Fair is to establish an open marketplace where artists and clients can interact, discover more about each other and build lasting relationships. Starting with the inaugural event in Fulham in April 2010 he believes that this is a business model that can be expanded across the world.

Mel Stenhouse – Event Coordinator

Mel’s background has always been art – from art college and a design honors degree, then 10 years as an Art Director in film and television to creative director of her own events company. Involved with the Animal Art Fair from the outset, Mel’s expertise in the event world tallies perfectly with her passion for art, animals and organisation!

Laura Vickers – Event Administrator

Laura studied History of Art at university,and then worked in financial recruitment for eight years. After having her children, she jumped at the chance of reentering the art world and joining the the Animal Art Fair team.