Over the past 15 months, YSP Media has been working with Animate Projects to document the making of WORK Records, a creative heritage project exploring the working lives and histories of three East Midlands companies through animation.
WORK Records brings together archive material, personal stories and contemporary animation to explore the histories of John Smedley, Robinson and Sons in Chesterfield, and Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd in Corby. Artists Kate Anderson, Kim Noce and Saul Pankhurst each created a new animated film inspired by the research, working with heritage organisations, archivists and people connected to the companies.
Since mid-2025, Derby-based filmmaker Christopher Bevan of YSP Media has developed Making WORK Records, filming at a number of project sites and locations as the work has developed. The resulting short documentary offers an insight into the artists’ creative processes and the different ways they responded to the archive material and stories they uncovered. Alongside the artists and project team, volunteers involved in the project were also interviewed, sharing their experiences and personal connections to the histories being explored.
The film follows the journey from historic photographs, documents and research through to the finished animations, giving an insight into the conversations, creative decisions and collaboration behind the work. For YSP Media, this unique project provided a valuable opportunity to document the development of the artworks as well as the people and places connected to them.
The completed animations and Making WORK Records were presented at Derby Museum & Art Gallery on 12 September 2026, bringing together members of the project team and contributors.
It has been a privilege to work alongside Animate Projects and all involved capture the creative journey behind this ambitious piece of heritage and animation work, and we look forward to further screenings and the eventual online launch of the final films.
WORK Records is produced by Animate Projects in partnership with Derbyshire Record Office, Corby Heritage Centre, John Smedley Archive, Junction Arts, Fermynwoods Contemporary Art and the University of Derby. The project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, and Arts Council England.
Find out more about WORK Records at workprojects.org.uk where you can explore the research and artists involved in bring the project to life. Below you can watch the first of four WORK Records short extracts which form part of the full length film, with the full series available on our Documentary/Community portfolio.
