Five founders building meaningful businesses through creativity, consistency, and staying true to their values

This week’s Founder Series features entrepreneurs who combine strong execution with clear purpose. Denholm Spurr strengthens London’s independent theatre scene through OffWestEnd. Chris O’Brien applies neuroscience in coaching with RunTeach. Jean Haines shares expressive watercolour methods through Watercolour Inspiration. Megan Lomax translates family hiking struggles into durable gear with Rubbastuff. And Audra Daws-Knowles curates vintage jewellery with care through Audra’s Brooches. Their stories show that focusing on customer needs and clear missions can produce long-term impact that reaches far beyond sales figures.

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OffWestEnd / The Offies
Denholm Spurr

In London theatre circles, OffWestEnd is a trusted name for grassroots creativity, and Denholm Spurr is continuing that work. “OffWestEnd theatre runs in my blood,” he says. His goal is to bring attention to all kinds of productions, from solo shows to long-running comedies, giving smaller venues collective strength.

Denholm’s Background
Growing up in a South London home filled with creativity but limited money, Denholm first explored theatre through his parents’ amateur productions. He later studied Drama and Spanish at Exeter and received a full scholarship to the Oxford School of Drama. After years acting in pubs and small studios, he took over OffWestEnd in 2024—a role built on decades of involvement in fringe theatre.

More About OffWestEnd
The platform lists shows, posts reviews, and maintains resources for more than 100 venues. Its awards, known as The Offies, have recognised early performances of shows like Fleabag and The Play That Goes Wrong. A free newsletter, interviews, and archives keep the site valuable for audiences and artists alike.

Key Challenges
Funding is always tight. “OffWestEnd receives no public funding and never has,” Denholm says. Running it mostly alone, he’s introduced automation, redesigned old pages, and invited guest curators—steps that let him focus on partnerships instead of paperwork.

Successful Highlights
Even small improvements stand out. “Click-throughs are up, submissions are smoother, and we’re planning for our 20th-anniversary festival,” Denholm says. Plans include pop-up events, exhibitions, and new bursaries—clear signs that behind-the-scenes work is paying off.

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RunTeach
Chris O’Brien

Chris O’Brien takes a different view of running: one that starts in the brain. “I’ve always believed the brain is the key to performance,” he says. With RunTeach, he helps people improve how they move by understanding how they feel, sense, and process movement.

Chris’s Background
Raised on the edge of Glasgow, Chris divided his time between computers and cross-country. His career in IT and finance fed his interest in systems and feedback. By 2018, he launched RunTeach to combine movement coaching with neuroscience.

More About RunTeach
RunTeach offers gait labs and virtual sessions. Clients—from office workers to school runners—start with a full neurological screening. Coaching includes video feedback, breathing exercises, and strength work tailored to how each person moves and senses their body.

Key Challenges
The pandemic was a major test. “It was the single biggest challenge we’ve faced,” Chris says. As in-person coaching paused, he created online courses, built new camera setups, and introduced home equipment rentals.

Successful Highlights
He measures success through results. “Clients often come to us after other methods have failed—and leave pain-free or performing better,” Chris says. From a ten-year-old relay captain to a triathlete who nearly quit, each story shows the value of brain-first coaching.

Watercolour Inspiration
Jean Haines

Jean Haines wants to make watercolour feel natural and free. “I’ve always loved painting,” she says, thinking back to childhood afternoons spent experimenting with poster paints. Today, her online platform helps thousands grow their skills without pressure.

Jean’s Background
Growing up in rural Wales gave Jean her love for landscapes and light. After living abroad with her diplomat partner, she studied painting in several countries. She returned to Europe with a unique style and a desire to move past strict, technical teaching.

More About Watercolour Inspiration
Her membership programme includes short tips, full-length demos, live critiques, and curated supplies. Her signature course, Atmospheric Watercolours, invites students to trust the process—tilting and blotting instead of correcting constantly.

Key Challenges
Early on, confidence was hard to maintain. “Some artists told me my style looked unfinished,” Jean says. Instead, she built a community that values emotion and expression, and it became the heart of her work.

Successful Highlights
Her biggest rewards come from student progress. “When students go on to show or sell their work, it means everything,” she says. Alumni have won awards, launched their own businesses, and even sold designs to textile companies.

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Rubbastuff
Megan Lomax

Frustrated with heavy gear and soggy blankets, Megan Lomax created PACMAT: a portable mat designed for outdoor family life. “We were hiking with kids and always carrying too much,” she says.

Megan’s Background
From Brownie campouts to high-altitude hikes, Megan always loved the outdoors. When the creative agency she ran with her husband lost a big client, they used the time to design something useful. Their company Rubbastuff was born at the kitchen table.

More About Rubbastuff
PACMATs are waterproof, lightweight, and peg-friendly. The product line now includes pillows and modular rugs. Each item is tested by Megan’s family before being made.

Key Challenges
Protecting her designs proved tricky. “We had problems with copied products,” she says. The team added patents, redesigned packaging with QR codes, and used social media to educate customers.

Successful Highlights
Winning at the Outdoor Industry Awards felt like validation. “It meant a lot to have our PACMAT recognised by gear experts,” Megan says. Other proud moments include teaming with national parks and donating gear to children’s charities.

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Audra’s Brooches
Audra Daws-Knowles

With a love for vintage jewellery, Audra Daws-Knowles turned collecting into a full-time business. “I’ve always been drawn to old clothes and jewellery,” she says.

Audra’s Background
Born in London and raised in Canada, Audra developed an eye for detail through thrift-shop finds. She returned to the UK, sold pieces at festivals, and eventually built her business online in 2017.

More About Audra’s Brooches
Audra’s site features carefully photographed pieces with context and styling ideas. Restoration is done either in-house or through skilled jewellers. Her collections span Victorian mourning jewellery, Deco designs, and bold ‘80s pieces.

Key Challenges
Finding quality stock remains tough. “It takes time to build trust with estate sellers and vintage dealers,” Audra says. Every brooch is inspected before being listed.

Successful Highlights
Her work has been featured by fashion editors across Europe and Japan. “Seeing my pieces in British and international Vogue was incredible,” she says. What was once a weekend market stall now serves a global audience.

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Final Remarks
These founders remind us that meaningful businesses are built by solving real problems with consistent effort. Denholm Spurr strengthens off-stage voices in theatre. Chris O’Brien brings science into everyday movement. Jean Haines shows how art can be emotional, not just technical. Megan Lomax makes outdoor time easier for families. And Audra Daws-Knowles gives vintage jewellery new life. Whether protecting originality, helping people move better, or amplifying creative communities, they each prove that staying true to purpose leads to results that matter. As Megan says, “We’ve always stayed true to our values—that’s what keeps us going.” Their stories show that lasting change often begins with one clear idea, tested over time, and carried forward with care.

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