In recent months, team Surrey Life has been busy speaking to our contributors and industry experts from around the county to get a feel for just who makes Surrey tick

Perdita Hunt

Director of Watts Gallery, Perdita Hunt has spearheaded the rescue of this national gallery in the heart of the Surrey village of Compton. Launching the Hope Project in 2004, Perdita went on to secure funding from, amongst others, the Heritage Lottery Fund to reach the £11million target that enabled the gallery to be saved. Since reopening, the gallery has welcomed more than 80,000 visitors, is regularly supported by more than 300 volunteers whose own contribution received a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and is now hoping to open the Watts’ home and studio to create an artists’ village in Compton. Perdita was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey in recognition of her services to the community in 2011.

Chris Ingram

Media entrepreneur Chris Ingram has created what is recognised as the biggest privately owned publicly accessible collection of Modern British Art. On loan to The Lightbox – the gallery and museum in Chris’ hometown of Woking – the Collection comprises more than 500 paintings and sculptures by the most important artists of the Modern British era, including Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth and Eduardo Paolozzi. In addition to creating a unique local opportunity to see world-class Modern British art, The Ingram Collection loans to major exhibitions and galleries internationally and has earned Chris deserved acclaim as “one of the most active and thoughtful collectors of Modern British Art today” according to Stephen Deuchar, director at The Art Fund.

Nic Fiddian-Green

Living in the sleepy hills near Godalming, working from a converted sheep-shearing shed, Nic Fiddian-Green’s monumental sculptures have left quite an impression on the world. A keen horse rider, it’s no surprise that the 50-year-old’s beloved equines are a huge part of his inspiration. Examples of his giant (up to 35 feet tall!) horse heads can be seen at Marble Arch, Ascot, Glyndebourne and Goodwood.

Keep on moving

Of course, any such list is subjective and many more could have featured within these pages. Get in touch with your Movers & Shakers, the people who influence how we all live in Surrey, on facebook.com/SurreyLife and twitter.com/SurreyLife and maybe you’ll see them included next time round!