Fiona
Maher
A local filmmaker and established creative artist, Fiona Maher - aka Tink to her friends - is best known for her work in screenwriting, cinematography, and festival organisation.
We had a chance meeting in Wrexham over a cup of tea, and an opportunity to find out more about her works and plans.
Chance meeting
with a leading
local playwright
Fiona has had an extensive artistic and creative career, including films and co-wrote the feature length film Expiry Date (2005), created at nearby Trevor Hall.
She also created The Wicca Man, (an homage to The Wicker Man). Fiona's version was made in Lego and screened on BBC 2 back in 2007 as part of their Summer of British Film programme).
In addition she also represented the north west for the now defunct British Film Council and made the short film ‘The Apprentice’ - made many years before the show of that name. Filmed in Liverpool at Rapid DIY and Quiggins - both alas are long gone.
It was Fiona's first short film and Alex Cox was the exec producer (he made Repo Man and used to present Moviedrome on BBC2). Because his name was attached, Fiona managed to secure the whole crew from Brookside to film it plus a face or two readers might remember - Carl Chase (Frank in Aliens) and Michael Starke (Sinbad in Brookside). It premiered at Raindance Film Festival in London.
Fiona also worked on the Welsh, multi-platform project, GALWAD (based on the book 'A Week in Future Wales' by Islwyn Ffowc Elis. GALWAD was created in 2021/22 and was screened on Sky Arts in 2022.
She has also been involved in recent theatrical projects, including 'Sherlock Holmes & The Man Who Believed in Fairies', a play exploring the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – the famous writer behind Sherlock – and his real-life belief in fairies - combining Sherlock’s logic and Conan Doyle’s spiritual belief.
Hidden for 100 years - the new evidence.
Sherlock Holmes –
and the
man who believed
Fiona is the writer behind the world of Sherlock Holmes and The Man Who Believed in Fairies, a gripping theatrical play and journey where logic defies and confronts belief.
The story revolves around Holmes facing his greatest adversary—this time his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—amid the real-life Cottingley fairies scandal. You probably have heard of Cottingley - a village in Yorkshire - best known for the famous Cottingley fairies hoax.
Back in 1917, two young cousins, Elsie Wright (16) and Frances Griffiths (9), claimed to have photographed fairies in the garden beside Cottingley Beck.
Using cardboard cutouts of fairies drawn from a children’s book and held in place with hatpins, they took five photos over several years. The images fooled many, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, who championed their authenticity in The Strand Magazine in 1920, hoping it to support his belief in spiritualism.
Fiona also created a narrated short film about the story and motivation for the project at the time when she successfully crowdfunded it;
The hoax that lasted a century
The story at the time courted a lot of scepticism, nevertheless the photos sparked a global fascination. Unbelievably it wasn’t until 1983 that Elsie and Frances admitted it was a hoax—though Frances maintained one photo might have been real. What started as a playful family joke became a century-long mystery, inspiring films, books, and exhibitions.
Today, Cottingley celebrates its legacy with events like the Cottingley Fairy Fest, and this history, combined with Fiona’s long interest in fairies herself helped inspired her play and her commitment to hosting the UK’s largest fairy festival in nearby Llangollen.
This critically acclaimed production, praised for its strong performances and clever mystery, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival back in 2024, drawing 700 attendees at the time. It later toured in Malvern, Greenwich, and Bath - with packed houses and audiences captivated by its humour and emotional depth. Now preparing for a 2026 autumn tour, the play celebrates the power of storytelling and deduction.
Watch the play being performed in this short clip below:
Notwithstanding the immense efforts in getting a professional play fully commissioned and to the stage, Fiona is also the driving force and champion behind the annual Legendary Faery Festival which welcomes over 12,000 attendees.
The Legendary Faery Festival returns for its 15th year on August 8–9, 2026, planned again at the Llangollen Pavilion in the scenic Dee Valley, about 10 miles southwest of Wrexham.
Celebrated as the UK’s largest fairy-themed event, it offers a weekend of magic for all ages.
Highlights:
Free activities: Wand making, circus skills, storytelling, live music, and outdoor performances.
Family fun: Vintage funfair, children’s workshops.
Faery Market: Over 200 stalls featuring jewellery, fey clothing, fairy houses, crystals, steampunk curios, and more.
Grand Faery Ball: An adults-only evening event on Saturday, starting at 7:00 PM, with live music and dancing.
Indoor & outdoor entertainment: All weatherproofed under the 5,000-seat pavilion, ensuring fun rain or shine.
Fiona tells us that ticket prices are being held for a fourth consecutive year, emphasising affordability and accessibility.
The festival also features a “Meet the Author” corner (Way on Hye), healing zones, and delicious food options.
Tickets will be available here The Legendary Faery Festival Tickets, Saturday, Aug 8 at 10 am to Sunday, Aug 9 at 5 pm | Eventbrite
Quote VISITWREXHAM upon checkout to receive a 10% discount for group bookings.