Ashton & Hayward
Sisters and collaborators Karen Ashton and Helen Hayward formed ‘Ashton & Hayward’ in 2004 to produce the first proper Art Car Boot Fair in London (after a pilot event was run as part of the Brighton Photo Biennial in 2003). Initially conceived to be a bi-annual affair the 2006 boot fair proved so popular we’ve decided to make it an annual summer event, whatever the weather (and sponsor willing!) Ashton & Hayward also run selected PR projects and are working on some new one-off event ideas for 2008.

For over ten years Karen Ashton has been producing, curating and PR-ing bespoke art events and projects in London with numerous arts and business clients including Finlandia Vodka, Royal College of Art, Beaconsfield, Lux Gallery, Finnish Institute in London, White Cube, Lisson Gallery, Sonera, Smart Trust, Olympus, Bloomberg, Vauxhall, Sony, I-D magazine. With a special interest in contemporary photography she has curated several exhibitions in this field, and in 2003 she was producer of the first Brighton Photo Biennial. More recently she has been focussing on boot fairs and salacious story writing, she also knows a lot about toxic chemicals.

Helen Hayward has worked in contemporary art and design, commissioning and curating projects with British and International artists both in the UK and abroad since 1996. She has worked on permanent and temporary commissions with artists such as: Simon Periton, Ricci Albenda, Mark Titchner, Rose Finn Kelcey, Mark Wallinger, Public Works and Droog Design … In addition she now knows a lot more about potty training toddlers and early mornings since the birth of Ava May, her daughter and the official Art Car Boot Fair mascot!

Vanessa Fristedt, aka Swedish Blonde - when she’s not taking off her clothes or performing as a live ventriloquists dummy she puts her vivid, witty and totally original imagination to work on creating web and brand design for a range of clients including fabulous art world projects such as Showroom Dummies and of course the Art Car Boot Fair – Vanessa is also the creator of the now infamous Old Broad Bean Jewelry line, please go visit her website and online shop after you’ve visited ours to peruse stickers, badges and other wares that will raise your eyebrows…and the corners of your mouth: www.swedishblondedesign.com.