Hello - I’m Maria Taplin, Founder

I bring empathy and sensitivity to place, people and stories to create moving experiences - harnessing the power of design and making for impact, influence, inspiration, inclusion.

I’m practical, hands-on and collaborative - working with a delivery team to create big impact at good value with meticulous attention to detail - from concept to completion.

I have a wide skills and experience toolkit - starting my working life in theatre design & production; moving to countryside management with a 3-year training with the National Trust; then as assistant for Interpret Shropshire and twelve years as director of Good Journey creating and producing materials promoting sustainable transport, tourism & living.

I embrace continued professional development - recently completing training in Project Managing Community Arts & Culture Projects with Artswork, Interpretation Planning and Interpretive Scriptwriting with Association for Heritage Interpretation, Call of the Wild - a year-long programme in nature connection with Wildwise/Schumacher College and Coaching Foundations with Wise Goose.

Alongside running Good Journey, I renovated an 18th century cottage and grounds in rural Wales - getting to grips with traditional building; garden design, landscaping and planting; managing the design and build of a timber-framed eco garden studio.

I love artisan and rural crafts - making objects that are beautiful and useful. I’ve tried my hand at coppice crafts, living willow work, letter cutting in wood and stone, contemporary bookbinding, leatherwork and printmaking.

Find me at my happiest in the wilds of the Isles of Scotland, planning, learning or making.

The Art of Experience is committed to ethical and sustainable practice, and to having a positive social and environmental impact - working towards formally establishing as a social enterprise.