Alison Hand and Julian Wild are two artists who launched Cement, an art school and studio complex, in 2025 in Newhaven.
The pair have made Cement a more sustainable business and created a studio complex for creative activity, with a showcase of their work recently shown at BN9 studio Gallery.
We caught up with Alison and Julian to find out more about Cement, creativity in Newhaven and how Newhaven Enterprise Zone has supported them.
For those who may not know Cement, what do you do and who do you support?
Cement is a new art school and studio complex on Quarry Road in Newhaven. We offer hands-on art education inside working artists’ studios, supporting people at every stage of their creative journey.
From beginners to established artists, we provide space to experiment, develop ideas and build confidence through workshops, open access sessions and mentoring.
Tell us about yourself, your career and your role at Cement
Cement is run by Alison Hand and Julian Wild. We’re both practising artists and tutors, with over 25 years’ experience. Our work has been exhibited and commissioned internationally, and alongside our own practice we’ve always been passionate about teaching and supporting other artists.
What inspired Cement, and how has it grown since it started?
Cement began as a mentoring programme for artists in 2023. As it grew, it felt like the natural next step was to create a physical space.
We opened in 2025 with a focus on sculpture, painting and material experimentation. We practice thinking through making. Whether someone is just starting out or a more established artist, we wanted to create a space that feels supportive, ambitious and genuinely useful.
Why is it important to create a space and mentorship for artists at different stages of their careers?
We believe artists need support at every stage. We both still work with mentors ourselves, and see learning as something that never really stops.
Whether working with a beginner or more experienced artist, our role is to help people connect with their own voice, develop how they talk about their work and build a sustainable creative career. That might be through technical skills, writing an artists’ statement or one-to-one support, or helping people make the right connections and get their work seen.
Why did you choose Newhaven as a home for Cement?
Newhaven already has a growing and generous creative community. There’s a real sense of momentum, with projects like Newhaven Art Space, Hospitable Environment, Creative Newhaven, Look Again Newhaven and BN9 Studio Gallery.
We wanted to be part of that, and to add something of our own by creating affordable studios and high-quality contemporary art courses.
What is it about Newhaven that appeals to artists and makers?
Space is a big part of it. There are still real opportunities here to find and make studio space.
Visually, Newhaven is also incredibly rich. The industrial landscape, the activity of the port, and the light on the River Ouse all give the town a distinctive feel that’s very inspiring to work with.
How is the creative scene in Newhaven changing?
There’s a growing number of artists choosing to live and work here and you can feel that shift happening.
There’s a strong sense of community and a lot of shared energy. It feels like a place with real potential, where people are actively shaping what comes next.
How does the coastal and industrial landscape of Newhaven influence the work being created at Cement?
Being based on the Quarry Road industrial estate gives us the freedom to work with materials and processes that aren’t always possible at home.
We run courses across everything from metal sculpture to spray painting and offer Newhaven-inspired sessions like our Industrial Landscape Painting course. The surroundings naturally feed into the work people are making.
What role has Newhaven Enterprise Zone played in supporting Cement as it has grown?
With the help of Newhaven Enterprise Zone, we have had the opportunity to exhibit at BN9 Studio, alongside strong marketing support. That visibility has been really valuable as we’ve grown.
Where is your favourite place to be in Newhaven?
We love the wildness of West Beach.
And the ferry is hard to ignore: watching it move up and down the river each day is a constant reminder of how connected Newhaven is. It’s part of the rhythm of the place.
What do you want to see in Newhaven in five years’ time?
We’d love to see Newhaven continue to grow creatively while holding on to what makes it unique.
It already has a strong identity. The challenge is to build on that without losing it.
We’d love to see it become the UK’s small town of culture.
How do you feel perceptions of Newhaven are changing?
Newhaven is becoming known for industry, creativity and its connection to the continent.
There’s momentum building, and it feels like more people are starting to see what’s already here. We’re proud to be part of that story.
