Hi! I’m Crystal

I was born & raised in the fast-paced metropolis of Hong Kong, where sea, mountains & sand meet asphalt, traffic and skyscrapers. A truly unique, multi-cultural and diverse city that shaped my formative years and instilled in me an open-minded and curious outlook on life. I moved to the UK as a teenager, by myself, in pursuit of an art education. I quickly learnt the importance of adaptability & resilience. And although continents away, carried with me my family’s intrinsic tenacity in face of any challenge that came my way. Flash forward to completing my MA during the pandemic. As lockdown lifted, I sought a more invigorating way of life. One away from the view of a screen and constraints of a desk, feeling an itch to get up and get out. I ended up getting a job as a line chef at a small vegan fine-dining restaurant, tucked away in a basement within Manchester’s ‘Northern Quarter’. I revelled in the rush of service, and channeled my innate creativity into food and flavour. Days and nights slowly melded into one and I was awake more than i wasn’t... but I was happy to be doing something new and stimulating, making use of my body, out and unconfined... even if it was more grease & stale basement air than sunshine & fresh air! I found a new passion and stuck with chef life, moving onto zero-waste catering & food innovation roles, whilst still finding opportunities to exercise my penchant for design and creativity. In my spare time, I like to take to the mountains with my dog & camera, and admire the British countryside. I enjoy tackling boulders at the climbing centre, an activity with problem solving at it’s core, whilst clearing my head in the process . At home, nothing makes me happier (or more emotional!) than immersing myself in a vivid anime or getting lost in a video game or two!