UK Handmade Autumn Magazine 2015

What advice would you give to someone starting their own creative venture, and what’s the best advice someone has ever given you?

Find out as much as you can about the medium you want to work in. Research other artists, go to shows and galleries before having work there, talk to everyone you can find in your sector but, most importantly, have a plan and follow your instincts.

Goals are essential for a self-employed artist to keep you motivated and on track. After 10 years of selling my work in galleries and exhibitions, I have recently started to re-assess what I want out of my career so this is a constant process, always evolving.

My husband was in a band when we met and luckily I have had his advice at all stages of my career as creative lives are very similar. It’s always been good advice but I never listened to the, “You’re doing too much!” until recently.

Who are your favourite artists, designers and makers?

I love David Hockney, Gillian Ayres, Philip Guston, Sean Scully and Francis Bacon for their use of colour, Thomas Heatherwick and Alexander McQueen for their imaginative practices, and far too many other makers to mention. I do head towards ceramics for inspiration more than glass as I love texture, opacity and form.

60 | ukhandmade | Autumn 2015