Staff

Chris Blackmore
Festival Director

Fay Butler
Bookkeeper

James Coutts
Marketing Manager

Board members

Frank Strang
Chair

Claire Benton-Evans
Director

Claire Benton-Evans is a keen hill walker and wild swimmer who looks forward to camping at Solas every summer. She coordinates work with children and young people in the Scottish Episcopal Church, where she has learnt to cherish volunteers. She supports and coordinates volunteers at Solas.

Rev Ian Manson
Director

Although once famously described as “a very rock and roll kind of vicar”, Ian is in fact something of an old fashioned Church of Scotland Minister in the north of Scotland, usually found out and about promoting community initiatives and supporting those going through hard times in his parish. Originally from Glasgow, he returned to Scotland in 2016 after working in Geneva, and immediately got involved in Solas as a volunteer, fulfilling various roles before being asked to join the Board in 2020. He is still pretty hands on, contributing particularly to the planning and the running of the Festival site.

Kirsty Walker Hughes
Director, Board Secretary

Kirsty is an experienced arts manager and project coordinator who currently works in the music programming team for Edinburgh International Festival. She has worked on a variety of UK-wide festivals and music projects, with a focus on community music and music in healthcare. She is passionate about people and their stories, and enjoys creating high-quality events and creative environments where participation, inclusion and social change are at the heart. Away from work, Kirsty enjoys travel and getting outdoors, and is currently trying to learn to play golf.

Debra Salem
Director

Mark Russell
Director