Iola collaborates on the construction of larger Kinetika structures such as the African faces for the 16ft puppets in ‘Celebrate South Africa ’ in 2001, assisting the build of the mechanical ‘Tiger’ and recently re-sculpturing the elephant puppet for the ENO’s production of Aida.

Iola has a background in illustration. She graduated from Southampton Institute with a Bachelor’s in Fashion Design in 1999 and is currently in her second year of a degree in Technical Effects for the Performing Arts at the London College of Fashion. In 2005 she visited Trinidad to work for Brian McFarlane, where she managed the fabric-dying for his “Threads of Joy” theme, which won the People’s vote at Trinidad Carnival.

Her development as an artist has occurred largely through Kinetika, thanks to working alongside many talented artists, being constantly encouraged to challenge and attending ‘Making of Mas’ courses.