Who runs Salt of the Earth? We Do. Meet the A-Team.

Jude Roland
Jude (seen on right next to rising Scottish star Irene MacKenzie) grew up in a New England family crammed with writers, artists, cartoonists and craftsmen. Her first “picture books” were mum’s art history volumes, and “normal” home life meant stacks of paintings, festering papier mâché gloop and the aroma of linseed oil being rubbed on a newly-made table or cabinet.

Frequent moves and a university year in India added dislocation to the mix and led to footloose travel writing, 10 years of international scriptwriting and a book on wetland wildlife. After marriage, career labels altered to marketing director, book editor, and arts publicist, but essentially, it was the same wordsmithing and ideas cultivation by different names.

Starting Salt of the Earth brought together so many facets of things Jude loves: working with creative people; sharing the buzz of their beautiful inspirations; and helping them to make the best of their talents in the big, bad, competitive world. She also gets a huge glow from the nice things people say about the quality and service SOTE provides. In other words, she’s totally hooked. Read Jude's blog.

John Roland
By the time John became an apprentice in “the Print” at age 16, he had already worked in and managed a business alongside his dad. Having achieved his City and Guilds in ye olde platemaking, proofing and printing, he put on his maverick entrepreneur’s cap and emigrated to South Africa.

After a few years of running a chain of Joburg art galleries selling and distributing prints, and then producing major theatrical and music events, he returned to the U.K. Life in the creative sector here has included directorships in varied ventures from audio visual and video to founding one of the first (and eventually Top 10) interactive media companies.

As a consultant and “new media guru” John helped to shape the fortunes and policies of big boys like BAFTA, Futurelab and Skillset, but has also advised and encouraged a host of artists, filmmakers, designers, musicians and craftsmen.

His technical brilliance and perfectionism are excellent qualities when it comes to making the best giclée prints you’ve ever seen. And that’s what we’ve been doing at Salt of the Earth since 2003, so John is truly in his element.

Great little businesses don’t happen by accident. If you’ve never visited Salt of the Earth and are wondering about the affable yet workaholic personalities behind the scenes, here they are...