Tony Heaton OBE

I was the Chief Executive of Shape Arts from 2008-2017 before stepping down in order to pursue my own projects and consultancy work within the sector, and to become Shape's Chair.

Prior to Shape, from 1997-2007, I was the Director of Holton Lee, a 350 acre campus with short stay residential facilities for Disabled people. During this time I led on a 10 year strategic plan and the commissioning and development of the award-winning Faith House Gallery and the Stables Studios.

Initiator of the NDACA (the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive), I am also a sculptor (www.tonyheaton.co.uk) and have had a long involvement within the disability arts movement, first exhibiting in 'Out of Ourselves' in 1990, with fellow disabled sculptor Adam Reynolds. My link to Shape goes back to 1986 when working as an artist, and then as Chair (1989-1994) of North West Shape, involved in the transition of the organisation into Full Circle Arts.

Little known fact: I used to be an independent record retailer but failed to follow the career path of Richard Branson. I did though manage to sell ace bass player (walk on the wild side) Herbie Flowers a copy of Plant Life, one of his own records!