Our hardworking multi-skilled team are passionate about using creativity and innovation to make a positive difference in people’s lives and their environments.
Karen Patton Orr – CEO
Karen is the CEO and co-founder of RIG Arts, with a lifelong passion for making arts and culture accessible to communities. Her journey began at the Glasgow School of Art, where she was actively involved in socially engaged arts practice in Greenock and Possilpark, Glasgow. She holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and completed a Polish Government Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of the Arts in Poznań (formerly PWSSP).
Before co-founding RIG Arts, Karen spent 12 years at IBM UK Ltd and gained an MBA with distinction from Glasgow Caledonian University. Today, she leads RIG Arts with a focus on accessible creative excellence, strategic growth, partnership development, and organisational sustainability. Her role includes overseeing HR, financial systems, governance, policy development, and staff training.
Karen’s dedication to the arts is rooted in her belief in their power to transform lives and strengthen communities. She continues her practice as a figurative painter, focusing on emotional and physical human connections through a distinctly female perspective. Her artistic insight deeply informs her leadership style.
Karen plays an active role in shaping Inverclyde’s cultural landscape, working in partnership with local authorities and third-sector organisations as part of the Inverclyde Cultural Partnership. She is also certified in Carbon Literacy by Keep Scotland Beautiful, supporting RIG’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices.
Karlyn Fergusson – Fundraising Officer
Karlyn is a graduate of Glasgow University with an MA Honours degree in English Literature. Since joining RIG Arts in 2015 as a Fundraising Assistant, Karlyn has contributed significantly to organisational growth while developing alongside the charity – ensuring that RIG Arts’ diverse funding strategy remains responsive to local need and is implemented to full effect. In her current role as Finance and Funding Manager, Karlyn assists with organisational finance, contributes to strategic planning, and supports business development while leading income generation through grants, government funding, donations, and revenue-creating activities – all aimed at supporting expansive programme delivery and advancing organisational ambition. Since 2021, Karlyn has balanced her responsibilities at RIG Arts with a part-time position as Funding Officer at Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust.
Penny King- Project and Business Administration Officer
Penny is a graduate of Heriot Watt University with an MA Honours degree in Spanish and Applied Language Studies. Penny has previous experience in similar administrative roles in the Third Sector. She will be managing projects and the daily operations of RIG Arts.
LD – Business Administration Assistant
An MA graduate from the University of Glasgow in Politics. This role supports the Administration Officer with the day to day duties of RIG Arts as well as managing the Community Art Space (CAS) in Seedhill, Paisley. They are also coordinating the Galoshans Festival.
David Blane – Finance & Funding Volunteer
David is a volunteer with RIG Arts and uses his background in finance with Cloch Housing Association to offer accounting and auditing support to RIG Arts.