Chris Trueman is a classical guitarist, composer, and arranger whose musical journey began at the age of five, strumming Beatles songs on a four-string tenor guitar. His early passion for music led him to piano and guitar lessons, and a deep admiration for the artistry of Andrés Segovia.

At just 11 years old, Chris earned a place at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester to study classical guitar, later continuing his training on scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London. His formative years were marked by a notable performance alongside John Williams in Bath in 2000, a moment that helped shape his artistic path.

Chris has twice reached the finals of the prestigious Andrés Segovia International Guitar Competition in Almuñécar, Spain (2014 and 2015), becoming the first British guitarist since Paul Galbraith to do so. His playing is deeply inspired by the expressive possibilities of the instrument, and he performs on guitars crafted by renowned German luthier Julian Dammann.

Chris also works as a composer and arranger  for clients including Channel 4, MTV, Ted Baker and Decca Classics. His arrangement of ‘The  Sound of Silence’ for guitarist Milos Karadaglic reached number 1 in the UK classical charts and was featured as track of the week and album of the month on Classic FM. 

In addition to his performing, arranging, and composing work, Chris Trueman brings a wealth of teaching experience to his students. Passionate about sharing his love for the guitar, he creates a supportive and engaging learning environment for players of all levels. His work spans classical repertoire and contemporary collaborations, always driven by a deep commitment to musical excellence and artistic expression. 

Frances had a long and successful career in higher educational development and digital education. Arts and crafts though, have always been very important in Frances’ life, as her mum is the painter, Rosemarie Deepwell. Frances studied art through school, with a particular leaning towards three-dimensional sculptures in ceramics and wood, as well as block printing. She has continued with pottery and drawing as a side activity for herself and encouraged her children with many and varied crafts and creative hobbies. Frances believes in the power of arts and crafts to form social connections and foster wellbeing, which is much needed at this time. That is why she launched Deepwell Arts for those who want to develop their skills in artistic expression with a range of media, and for those who just want to experience the process of making. Deepwell Arts also hosts workshops and events at a beautiful arts-and-crafts venue in Oxford.

Krisztina Dufala, born in Hungary and raised in Poland, has a rich background in visual arts, theatre, choir, and various dance forms. She holds two master’s degrees in linguistics and speaks eight languages. A pivotal software translation project in Mexico ignited her passion for salsa dancing and Mexican art. She met her husband at a salsa class, moved to the UK, and they taught Cuban Salsa together. Krisztina also has experience working with vulnerable groups, and as a trainee creative therapist she uses dance and art to enhance wellbeing. After becoming a mother, she found joy in creative activities with her child. She is now studying Holistic Integrative Art Therapies to combine art, movement, and mindfulness in her work.