Who We Are
About Jack of Hearts CIC
Founded by Vicky Jackson in 2021, Jack of Hearts CIC is led by a dedicated team of directors passionate about using the arts to inspire and engage communities. The organisation focuses on storytelling, creative arts, and community collaboration, working with schools, youth centres, and local groups to break down barriers to art and celebrate local heritage.
Vicky has a 17-year background in education in Hartlepool and founded Jack of Hearts CIC after a career change in 2018. Her journey into community arts began after her singing business was impacted by the pandemic, leading her to create a platform that uses storytelling and the arts to inspire others. Vicky’s vision for Jack of Hearts CIC is rooted in her passion for creativity and collaboration, with a focus on making art accessible to all.
Amanda and Rachael joined Jack of Hearts CIC as directors in August 2022 after collaborating on the successful “Rime of the Submerged Forest” project. Both bring a wealth of experience from their backgrounds in education and freelance artistry, including skills in SFX makeup, costume design, sculpture, and fine art. They have been key figures in major community events like the Hartlepool Folk Festival and Wintertide Festival, incorporating reclaimed materials, local heritage, and interactive storytelling into their work. Their leadership has expanded Jack of Hearts’ reach, allowing more opportunities for creative expression across the region.
Together, Vicky, Amanda, and Rachael lead Jack of Hearts CIC with a shared commitment to empowering communities through art. Their combined expertise drives innovative, collaborative projects that resonate with local heritage, environmental themes, and the power of collective storytelling.
We are three Hartlepool-based artists with a passion for bringing community and art together to create lasting impact. At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to celebrating local heritage, fostering collaboration, and driving economic growth.
From day one, we’ve embedded ourselves within Hartlepool’s vibrant community, building strong connections with local groups like Hartlepool Youth Service and The Hartlepool Local History Group. These partnerships have allowed us to reach people from all walks of life, ensuring our projects are inclusive, reflective of the town's rich cultural history, and inspired by the voices of the people who live here.
Our approach is simple: listen and collaborate. By working hand-in-hand with the community, we create projects that truly resonate, enriching them with fresh ideas and diverse perspectives. One of our proudest achievements is the Digital Heritage Project—a groundbreaking initiative that merges technology and history to create an interactive digital trail of Hartlepool’s past. This project isn’t just about preserving history—it’s about bringing it to life for future generations. By involving local groups, we’ve ensured the project reflects the stories and heritage of Hartlepool’s people. In partnership with Wintertide Festival CIC, we’re excited to launch the project this November, with plans to keep adding content for years to come.
Securing national funding for this initiative has been a huge milestone for us, and it’s a testament to the project’s innovation and the hard work of our team. With this funding, we’re collaborating with talented local developers who are using cutting-edge digital solutions to turn our vision into reality.
Our commitment to Hartlepool’s economy goes beyond art—we’re creating opportunities for local artists, businesses, and community groups to shine. By giving local talent a platform through our projects, we’re helping to fuel the creative economy and cement Hartlepool’s reputation as a hub for artistic and entrepreneurial activity.
We’ve seen first-hand how collaboration between artists and businesses sparks innovation, and we’re proud to have played a role in strengthening Hartlepool’s cultural and economic vitality. As a young organisation, we’ve grown rapidly, tripling our turnover in less than three years—a reflection of our innovative approach and the overwhelming support from our community.
Looking to the future, we aim to expand the Digital Heritage Project over the next 3-5 years, attracting new visitors and boosting the local economy through cultural tourism. Our ambition is to put Hartlepool on the map as a destination for those seeking a unique experience of local history and creativity.
Our journey has been driven by a love for community, heritage, and innovation. We’ve built strong networks, launched pioneering projects, and worked alongside local artists, businesses, and groups. The road ahead is full of exciting possibilities, and we’re ready to continue making a lasting impact on Hartlepool’s cultural landscape.
Our team
Vicky Jackson
Founder and Managing Director
With over 18 years of experience in arts education, I’m on a mission to make the arts accessible to everyone! My passion for sparking a love for learning through hands-on experiences shines through in everything I do. From classroom lecturing and online teaching to leading vibrant drama clubs, I thrive on bringing creativity to life in schools, colleges, and community spaces.
As a creative producer for local festivals, including being one of the driectors of the Wintertide Festival in Hartlepool, I’m all about collaboration and community engagement. My recent research at The Shakespeare Institute dives into how combining literacy and arts education boosts wellbeing, social skills, and self-confidence.
I’m dedicated to breaking down barriers, especially in underprivileged areas, and developing cross-curricular projects that celebrate heritage, language and culture. Plus, I’m super excited about using augmented reality to captivate kids with arts, literature, and our rich local heritage!
Whether I’m managing large budgets or mentoring budding artists, I’m always learning and evolving. Proudly Hartlepudian, I’m determined to elevate access to arts and heritage in Hartlepool and beyond.
Rachael Armstrong
Co-Director
I am an artist who thrives on bringing characters to life.
I have a passion for blurring the boundaries between beauty and the macabre, creating a mesmerising fusion of the two. My fascination with stage makeup began in my early years, drawing inspiration from the captivating world of horror movies. The intricate process of transforming actors through costume and Special Effects makeup has always captivated me.
I am deeply passionate about prosthetic makeup and the liberating feeling it brings to completely metamorphose a person. The ability to embody any character or creature one desires is truly empowering. Operating within budget constraints propels me to explore innovative solutions and think creatively to realise the desired look. The whole journey, from the conceptualization to execution, is a thrilling challenge that I wholeheartedly embrace and love.
I find immense joy in expressing my creativity through painting, particularly in the vibrant and dynamic realm of Pop Art. Bold colours and abstract shapes fuel my passion for this style. Self-taught in the art of Makeup and Special Effects, I draw from my background in Fine Arts and Contemporary Textiles to bring my vision to life. For the past 5 years I have been honing my skills in Special Effects Makeup under my business name 'Over the Winks'.
Creating unique costumes and makeup transformations for a variety of projects, including Film, Photoshoots, Stage performances, Festivals, Private Parties, Fundraisers. In addition to my artistic work, I provide private mentoring and conduct workshops across the North East.
With over ten years' experience teaching in a SEND environment, I combine my passion for art with my dedication to education. I find great fulfilment in sharing my artistic knowledge, fostering creativity, and inspiring my students.
Art is not just a subject for me; it's a powerful tool for expression and connection.
Amanda White
Co-Director
Art is in my blood, coming from a long line of artists I naturally fell into a creative lifestyle, what else is a girl to do?
A past that started with a degree in Art and Design, I made a job!.. Community Arts Officer working for Cultural Services.. doing anything from community carnivals, fire sculpture, mosaics, curated community art exhibitions working with artists the ilk of Eric Bainbridge.
This role brought me into contact with young creative minds and I soon found myself Education Action Zone Arts Coordinator, a role across twenty schools raising educational standards via creative processes.
I enjoyed the young creative minds so much it seemed a natural calling to become a course leader in a specialist art college, a place filled with young exciting creative minds.
I have a passion for the arts and lecturing, this passion was rewarded in 2013 when I was awarded a Distinction by The Pearson Award for FE Teacher/Lecturer of the Year.
Lecturing is my job, one I love.. but an artist needs to create..
As well as being a director at Jack of Hearts, I create work under my artist name, Mandascat, my creation, my creative release, my soul which sometimes needs to fly.. or in Mandascat case, play, chase string, catch birds and general cat mischief. Think of Mandascat as a writers nom de plume and I think you'll get me.
Mandascat creates,;
Hand drawn original art.. I've exported commissioned pieces to the States, designed work for an album cover working hand in hand with the artist and print company, produced work for festival websites and merchandise, illustrations for an educational children's book.. but the biggest thrill seeing the smiles when people receive a piece of bespoke art work.
I can produce art which can then be transformed to prints, stickers, flyers, fabric, bags, cups.. let your imagination run wild with mine.