Story and photos by Claudia Colli
When I stepped through the door at Creative Waves, I entered a world brimming with color and vitality. A self-described “arts hub,” Creative Waves is located within a single large room at Road Reef Plaza in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. Bright and busy, the room contains works brought to life in a variety of media from driftwood and shells to acrylic and paper-mâché. With its eclectic feel and lively exhibits, the room was a tribute to art in the BVI.
Brightly patterned bowls were lined up on tall shelves and shell art hung on the far wall in neat frames and plexiglass boxes. In the center of the room, a large table was ringed by a group of women. Fashioning sculptures from driftwood, sea fans and other natural treasures, they were happily channeling their inner creativity.
Bold and colorful paintings by Vincent “Bing” Malone were hung on two of its walls when I visited. In one, clouds zoomed across a landscape of old-time sloops floating in the harbour; red roofed houses dotted the foreground. The hurricane-battered Zion Hill church came to life once again, and the boulders at the Virgin Gorda Coppermine were set against a background of vivid colors.
Fostering art in the BVI was a primary motivation for Sophie Stanton, the non-profit’s innovative founder and director.
“I have been immersed in the arts since I was born,” she explained. “My grandfather was a wonderful artist and my mother was an art dealer with a stall in Portobello Market where I spent weekends as a child. I then went on to work in the art world for over 20 years, surrounding myself in art and with artists as much as I could. I enjoy painting and making things, anything creative, anything out of the ordinary.”
Sophie also runs an international art consultancy firm, Sophie Macpherson Ltd., and since her arrival in the BVI, she has utilized her background in art to make it more accessible to islanders. Creativity, she believes, is an important component for all learning. She has two children in the Cedar School and is on the Cedar School board, which has a well-established art program. She would like to see art taught in all island schools, she told me.
To fill this gap, Creative Waves offers a variety of after school art classes. There’s Mini Makers for the preschool set and a Creative Crew Art Project Lab for primary school kids. The Studio Sessions Arts Club is for high school students. A playgroup on Saturdays brings together the island’s tiniest budding artists and their parents.
And then there are the grownups. Often people don’t realize that they harbor artistic talent. But whether they work in tourism or finance, Creative Waves is happy to provide an outlet for their inner artist.
Adult classes include the Driftwood art class taught by Laura del Beato, a watercolor class led by Christine Taylor, and a mosaic art class taught by Clare Cottreau. As a lover of small decorative boxes, I thought the decoupage keepsake box class could easily be for me. For a more sociable approach to art, there is a Sip and Paint evening led by Desiree Smith.
Managing an organization as far-reaching as Creative Waves requires wearing several hats: artist, creative director and fundraiser among others. Sophie noted that 75 percent of the revenue accrued from art sales goes to the artist, rather than the typical 50 percent cut at many galleries. There are fees for art classes, but much of the revenue for the nonprofit comes from fundraising.
Creative Waves’ first community exhibit came in early 2024 when, in conjunction with Cedar School, Stanton helped organize a large-scale display of local art. Mounted on three floors of the atrium at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, the exhibit showcased the works of a broad swath of BVI painters, sculptors and photographers. I attended the exhibit and was impressed by the range of art created by so many talented people, from the young to the old. Judging by the buzz of excitement, my feelings were shared by everyone in the room.
Another Creative Waves initiative is public art. To bring art out of the studio and into the community, a series of murals are being painted around the islands at ferry terminals and other public spaces.
There are also classes and programs aimed at helping the community. For instance, Introduction to Art Therapy is an innovative class aimed at educators and health care professionals, as well as anyone interested in using art therapy to help patients.
The Bing Malone art exhibit was just one of a series of monthly exhibits. For the current schedule consult the website (www.creativewavesbvi.com).
This article was originally published by The BVI Insider, which offers in depth insights into The British Virgin Islands, considered by many the sailing capital of the Caribbean. To learn more about the BVI, its people, culture, activities and places to visit go to: thebviinsider.com.
Claudia Colli is the publisher of The BVI Insider. For three decades, she served as the publisher and editor of The Welcome Guide to the British Virgin Islands, where she lives. In addition to those roles and freelance commissions, she is the author of two guidebooks to the BVI: Introducing the BVI and British Virgin Islands: Sheltered Isles of Sea and Sun, published by Macmillan.
