"We have people travelling up from London for a weekend to enjoy Chesterfield and take part in courses at our studio!"

Champion of the Week and Founder of StraightCurves, Karen Rogers, shares how her creative workshops are bringing people of all ages together to learn new skills, explore their creativity and enjoy arts and crafts in Chesterfield

I’m Karen Rogers, the creative teacher behind StraightCurves. Originally from London and trained in interior design and architecture, I moved to Chesterfield in 2012 and haven’t looked back.

I retrained as a teacher in 2009 and taught in secondary schools for many years. When I moved to Derbyshire, I went part-time and decided to set up my own business, combining my love of teaching with my passion for all things creative. StraightCurves was born from a desire to share those skills with more people.

Based on Saltergate, our team of tutors at StraightCurves has been teaching arts and crafts to the local community and beyond since 2013.

What is your organisation looking forward to?

Alongside our studio sessions, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the community and getting out and about again, visiting schools, attending events and sharing our creative skills across Derbyshire.

What makes Chesterfield and North Derbyshire a good place to work?

I love Chesterfield. After the hustle and bustle of London, the community feel and slower pace have been the perfect environment for StraightCurves to grow.

We even regularly have people travelling up from London for a weekend to enjoy Chesterfield and take part in courses at our studio, which I think says something rather lovely about our town!

How is your organisation supporting our communities and improving our quality of life?

I’m passionate about making StraightCurves an inclusive and accessible place for everyone. Our learners range from 2 to 102, and we have a broad range of creative sessions. We’re currently expanding our team of tutors and hope to offer even more sessions before the end of 2026.

For me, StraightCurves has always been about more than learning a new craft. I want people to develop their skills and be inspired, but also to give themselves permission to stop for a while, switch off from everyday life and simply enjoy making something with their hands.

There is something special about the moment when someone sees what they have made for the first time. I call it “the proud giggle”  -  that little moment of surprise and delight when someone realises, I made that! That is what keeps me passionate about StraightCurves.

How would you describe Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, using only three words?

Opportunity, community and heritage.

What experiences would you recommend sharing in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, and why?

If you’re visiting, I’d recommend exploring the flea market on a Thursday and then enjoying a long lunch at The Market Pub, a great way to experience some of the character and independent spirit that makes Chesterfield special.

There is so much happening here, from our markets and independent businesses to the fantastic creative and community organisations across the town.

What does being a Chesterfield Champion mean to your organisation?

Being a Chesterfield Champion isn't just about promoting our own business; it's about championing the town we are part of and encouraging people to discover what makes Chesterfield special.

That’s why we are Chesterfield Champions. We’re passionate about sharing what is already happening here, supporting our local community and helping people discover the brilliant things that are right on our doorstep.