A Pain in the Arts

Creative work, events & projects by Amy

Hello, I’m Amy, an artist, event curator and creative organiser based in Birmingham.

A Pain in the Arts is my space for my creative work alongside my work at Outer Circle, the tattoo and piercing studio I own and run in Erdington, Birmingham.

I've spent 20 years working within alternative and creative industries, working alongside artists, performers, makers, small businesses and creative communities. Along the way, I've ended up doing a lot of things that don't fit neatly into one job title, A Pain in the Arts is where those things come together.

Through A Pain in the Arts, I work with small businesses, artists and creative projects on everything from design and promotional materials to events, exhibitions and bringing creative ideas to life. Sometimes it's designing something, sometimes it's organising an event, putting together an exhibition, finding the right people for a project or helping turn an idea into something real. I work with independent businesses, artists and alternative creative communities, finding practical ways to turn ideas into something people can see, experience and get involved with.

I'm always interested in working with people who have something they want to make happen, even if they're not quite sure what that looks like yet.

Find me on social media

A woman with dark hair and tattoos on her face and neck, wearing a black shirt with a white graphic design, stands in front of a light-colored tiled wall.

What I do

Design & Visual Content

I create visual content for small businesses, artists and creative projects, helping turn ideas into clear and engaging designs.

This includes:

Branding & design
Logos, business cards and other printed materials.

Promotional materials
Posters, flyers and graphics for events, businesses and creative projects.

Social media design
Graphics and content for artists, small businesses and independent projects.

Exhibition Curation & Creative Projects

I’m interested in creating opportunities for artists and bringing creative projects to life, particularly within Birmingham's independent and alternative art communities.

I can help with:

Exhibition planning and curation
Artist liaison
Working with venues
Developing creative collaborations
Creating opportunities for local artists

I currently work with Highbury Theatre and arts centre to showcase local artists with regular art exhibitions alongside Highbury Players productions. For more information about applying the exhibit contact me at exhibitions@highburytheatre.co.uk

Find out more about Highbury Theatre here

Events & Event Management

I help develop, organise and manage all kinds of events, from the initial idea through to making everything happen on the day, bringing together artists, performers and audiences to create experiences that are a little different from the usual.

I can help with:

Event planning and development
Organisation and coordination
Working with venues and suppliers
Artist and performer booking and liaison
Promotion and event materials
Managing the event on the day

Poster with a woman in vintage showgirl attire, featuring pink and purple tones, the text 'A Pain in the Arts' and 'Alternative art events curation''.

Let's make something happen

Have a project, event or idea you'd like to talk about?

Whether you know exactly what you need or you're still figuring it out, get in touch and we can have a chat about what you're trying to create and how I might be able to help.

Get in touch

Email me at
amy.apita@gmail.com

Or find my on Instagram
@a.paininthearts