About us

Working with us
Words and Pictures are at the root of how we work. Much of our output is project driven allowing us to deliver a graphical and conceptual driven service across a wide variety of sectors and disciplines that include landscape, interpretation, illustration and design.

Recent and current projects demonstrate this variety:

• Tees White Water Barrage – Creating and illustrating an arial map of the site to show the facilities and useage.
• Wren’s Nest NNR Interpretation – Designing and creating intperpretation elements for a Geo-Park and NNR.
• Image Bank – Managing and creating a photographic library fo adults with learning disabilities.
• Bird Identification and Gaelic Interpretation – Designing and illustrating two panels for the Island of Islay in English and Gaelic.
• Sustrans Cycle Path – Writing of the Interpretation Management Plan and designing and implementing a range of interpretation features including seating, gates, signage and sculptures.

Our work cannot easily be classified into one or two sectors or services. But a common theme is one of Ideas and Sustainability. Innovation is also a key component in how we deliver through a brief.

We take the words of a brief and then extract the concepts so that ideas can be fully realised and explored and brought to life.
This allows us to deliver innovation through Words and Pictures, through a variety of media that includes illustrated information panels on nature reserves, artworks in bronze and cast iron, stone and wood constructs and living projects that involve communities.

Steve Pardue
Steve works mainly in the area of interpretation and signage and has extensive experience working in West Coast Scotland working on interpretation projects on Islands and small communities in Fort William and Oban. These projects include designing and managing the production of interpretation panels as well as writing management plans for Paths.

Other projects that are nearer to home include working with local authorities and organisations producing education packs, information booklets, branding projects and websites. Steve works between Edinburgh and his base in Northumberland.

Skills and services:

• Graphic Design
• Interpretation Management
• Interpretation Design
• Website design
• Project Management
• Copywriting
• Trails and Guides
• Photography
• Illustration
• Artwork
• Training
• Education and Schools outreach work
• Working with Adults with Learning Disabilities

Claire Stubbs – Chartered landscape architect
Claire has considerable experience working on large scale landscape projects. The work she has done with Groundwork East Durham has enabled her to liaise and manage complex community consultations. She has extensive experience in detail design and contract administration. Claire has successfully managed large and small scale projects for clients such as Groundwork East Durham, working in regeneration areas, landscape design for community gardens, parks and church schemes.

Claire has a personal interest in designing managing school gardens and nature areas.

Skills and services:

• Landscape design
• Project Management
• Copywriting

Rosy Barlow – Website design and development
Rosy is based near Oban and runs the West Coast Scotland branch of Differentia. Rosy looks after the more technical side of website development along with managing the Scottish based projects for Differentia. With a background and training in information management, plus experience in running small tourism businesses in Argyll, she understands the needs of local businesses and their market.

Rosy enjoys working closely with community groups, and finding the best solution to their needs. As well as website designs, she has also worked on trail leaflets, information packs for tourism businesses and exhibition displays. Her well-rounded knowledge and photos of the wildlife of Argyll are often called upon in her design work. See more here www.differentiawestcoast.co.uk

Skills and services:

• Graphic Design
• Website design
• Website development
• Project Management
• Copywriting
• Trails and Guides
• Artwork

Sitara Keppie – Associate Director
Sitara has a broad range of experience with over twenty years experience both private and public sectors in the UK, and abroad.  Before setting up Circle Design Consultants, Sitara worked with a number of environmental consultancies including ASH and RPS as Associate Director.

Recently Sitara has undertaken numerous landscape and visual impact assessments for onshore windfarm developments in the UK.  She has also provided LVIAs for proposed power lines, waste treatment plants, sand and gravel quarries and hydro-electric power schemes.

Sitara also has extensive experience in masterplanning, detailed design and contract administration.  Design projects have included restoration schemes for landfill sites; landscape design of the grounds for the Scottish Fire Services College and preparation of landscape input to numerous planning applications for retail developments.

In addition, Sitara has experience of giving evidence as an expert witness at Public Inquiry. Sitara works between Northumberland and her base in Edinburgh. For more information about Sitara’s work see her dedicated website www.circledesignuk.com.

Dave Lucas - Accessibility Consultant
Dave is a proud guide dog owner, he is now an access auditor, a low vision awareness trainer, a consultant on visual impairment issues to many organizations and public bodies and a director of C Pod Ltd. David has worked on projects to produce talking storage boxes, a Braille scanner for reading bar codes and on a flash drive player for talking books. He can provide an access audit of your premises or low vision awareness training to your staff or volunteers. He can give advice on “Clear Print”, provide Braille transcription services and give advice on accessible literature. See more here www.roadahead.tv

Paul Haverson – D3 Associates and Consultant
Paul has extensive experience within the regeneration sector and has been responsible for the management and delivery of multi-disciplinary schemes across the UK. He provides client liaison and project direction; coordinating activities at both a strategic and project level to provide commercially and technically robust solutions.

Prior to forming d3a, Paul led a regeneration team within a large national consultancy, managing a wide range of projects within a strong multidisciplinary environmental and engineering office.

Paul has over 25 years experience in the project management, design and construction of engineering projects and has worked on a broad range of schemes including conservation works, infrastructure, regeneration and public realm works gaining extensive experience within the private and public sector. He has developed schemes from feasibility stage to implementation including, design, contract procurement, site supervision and acted as CDM – Coordinator. See www.d3-associates.co.uk

Differentia Limited
14 a/b Gilesgate
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 3NJ
Tel: 0191 640 8994

Company Registration: 03740779
VAT: 764 2244 34

Registered as an approved supplier with Business Link.