Established in 2003 Greener Lavelle is the business name for Creative Director Kim McDermottroe.
Kim has a varied portfolio spanning over two decades of work that ranges from creative direction, costume design and construction, bespoke puppet design and construction, illustration, artist talks, mentoring and arts workshop facilitation.
Since establishing the business in 2003, Greener Lavelle has worked on many large scale carnival structures at flagship events across the North East. Her studies at Cleveland College of Art in “Entertainment Design Crafts – with a specialism in Costume” gave her a solid background in technique and allowed her to take on costume design commissions from museums and galleries, independent films, TV and theatrical productions.
Recent work includes a commissioned costume for Smoggie Queens Series 2 and a Lady Lemon Top mascot costume for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. The design of BLOOM, a new children’s play space at Theatre Hullabaloo, making the Iceberg costume (Designed by Ryan Hooper) for Smoggie Queens Series 1, written Phil Dunning produced by Hat Trick Productions for BBC3 and adding Sarga an inflatable sea turtle to the hire offer.
Greener Lavelle’s work looks to inspire and brings fantastical, extraordinary creatures to life.
Kim takes her own inspiration from the likes of Louise Bourgeois, Guillermo Del Toro, Salvador Dali & Brian Froud. Her main influence comes form the natural world and her ability to see the beauty in the often overlooked and discarded.
The common thread running through most of Kim’s work is character. Whether that’s costuming an actor or designing in her sketchbook, characters are at the forefront.
In 2024 and 2025 Kim has been working with Kristin Kelly Abbott (Abbott Dance Theatre) to develop a dance performance based on her own characters with the plan to create a full theatrical production.
Kim delivered her talk at TedX Teesside in October 2025 about why she wears odd shoes and navigating freelance as an autistic artist.
Whether you are a museum in need of a period replica, a production looking for costumes or you need a large scale puppet to attend your event, Greener Lavelle can bring that memory making magic through interactions and photo opportunities.
Awards/nominations-
Autism Hero Awards – Anna Kennedy Online: Finalist
North East International Film Festival: Official Selection 2025
Tees Valley International Film Festival: Official Selection and Award Nomination 2025
North East International Film Festival: Official Selection 2024
Tees Valley International Film Festival: Official Selection and Award Nomination 2024
Tees Valley International Film Festival: Official Selection x3 2023
UK Pantomime Association: Top 5 shortlist – Best Costume Design 2022
F:Entrepreneur: Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs in the #ialso campaign 2019
Small Business Saturday: Small Biz 100 Business 2016
Women in Business Awards: Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2003
Other services include illustration, bespoke puppets, set / prop design and construction, creating educational resource packs, online learning content and access consultancy
Greener Lavelle has facilitated workshops for all ages in various disciplines such as costume design/construction, fashion design/construction, mask making, fabric manipulation, carnival costume design/construction, willow sculpture and lanterns.
In 2021 Kim was awarded a Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) – Arts Council England grant which resulted in her first 3x solo exhibitions.
Kim is passionate about inclusive working and continued professional Development (CPD).
She has completed
Embedding Audio Description into Creative Process and Performance: Front Line Dance
Train The Trainer- Disability Equality Training – Little Cog
LGBTQIA+ Awareness training – Curious Arts
Environmental Training – Julie’s Bicycle/SIRF
Greener Lavelle is a member of Artist’ Union England and Outdoor Arts UK (click the logo to see member listing).
