MySQL read only slave - how to create views
I have an issue now in that I am really limited to what I can do with
  the data in MySQL - cannot create views etc.


The biggest issue in above is "etc". 
Any editing operation on Slave can crash the replication process, and Your head of IT just absolutely correct want avoid regular restore of server.

The possible ways:


create all views on Master. It safe. Views not add additional loading to server and will be automatically replicate to Salve
If You do not need real-time data (it normal practice) - go from replication to nightly restore few important tables. Operation could be automate easily
and as mentioned in Your post - continue use Access. May be not the best, but it very good tools for personal use. 
In addition to Access - look for PowerBI (or similar tools) they could make many transformation in memory without creating views


It is possible to create views on Slave without collisions with replication, but ... but feature unpredictable and IT just try to avoid any potentials issues, and they are right.