The Team

Adam has been Director of Grizedale Arts since 1999. Since the organisation acquired the pub in 2021 he has worked across all areas of The Farmer’s Arms, from housekeeping to the chip fryer, leading in the kitchen since 2023. A lifelong potter, Adam is also responsible for making most of the pub shop’s popular ‘mocha-ware’ mugs and jugs.

Karen is Grizedale Arts’ Head Gardener, volunteer coordinator and warden at their artists’ residence Lawson Park.

She was Director of Detail for The Farmer’s Arms from 2021-2023, doing everything from buying second hand church pews to making miso to sourcing our pub cat Bailey. She also worked with Tom Philipson and Pippa Martin on the distinctive design and refurbishment of the pub’s cafe space.

In 2021 Karen initiated The Farmer’s Arms Gardening School, as the Covid pandemic was ending. Now in its fifth year, the School undertakes most of the pub garden maintenance during their monthly sessions under Karen’s tuition. The School’s students also designed and planted Diana’s Orchard (supported by King Charles’ Coronation Orchard Fund) in 2025, and featured in the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘The Garden’ magazine. Karen has also taught a weekly Beginners Edibles course at  the pub (with Hazel Sharples), and other occasional garden and ecology events such as National Meadows Day.

‘The Ungarden’ in the pub carpark – soil-less gravel beds growing only drought tolerant seed-sown plants – was designed and made by Karen with Grace Holland in 2023.

Francis joined The Farmer’s Arms team in February 2022 in an unconventional move from London to Lowick, after completing a ceramics apprenticeship with celebrated potter Lisa Hammond. He’s usually to be found in our workshop at his wheel, where he makes the beautiful wares he sells in our pub shop and elsewhere at craft fairs across the land.

Francis has designed and produced many of the plates and dishes and jugs in regular use at the pub. He is also a great teacher, offering sell-out pottery classes at our pub workshop on a regular basis. Check out our What’s On for the next available.

Least favourite thing to make for the pub? Plates. Whilst I don’t mind actually making them, they take up so much space in the workshop during their production.
When you’re not in the workshop? I’ll unashamedly admit to switching off with some real trash TV, interspersed with some high brow, cultured films here ‘n’ there.

Molly has been with us since 2023, working across varied areas of The Farmer’s Arms including programming our Soup Talks and Stable Bar exhibitions.

Sheila joined as our Accounts & Finance officer in summer 2025.

Anna joined Grizedale Arts as a p/t gardener across both Lawson Park and The Farmer’s Arms in summer 2025. She also works with our youth project CafeTeen, and supports other projects from time to time too. When not with us Anna runs a design and gardening business for clients across the north of England.