19: An eventful journey to being a full time artist with Claire Howlett
An Art To It
There probably aren’t many artists who can lay claim to a previous career working with stunt horses in film and TV productions, but Claire Howlett can. When she had to abandon her foundation degree in fine art, Claire first turned to art restoration as a potential career but after an enjoyable and educational few years in a darkened room, it was to her other great love - horses - that she turned. Applying to a few stables in her native Berkshire, she was lucky enough to be taken on by one specialising in providing equine performers and she was hooked. In our very entertaining chat, Claire...
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18: Creative entrepreneurship and multi-tasking with Emily Hadley
An Art To It
A glance at Emily Hadley’s website is enough to make the most accomplished of creative business owners feel (more than?) slightly inadequate. Not only has she and her husband renovated three homes, Emily took charge of the interiors - a service she has also developed professionally - she is also an Instagram influencer and content creator, a silversmith with a range of jewellery… and now runs a hugely successful art gallery from her home. And during much of this was also a primary school teacher championing art for future young creatives. In our lively and entertaining chat Emily...
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17: Flower Power: the art of creative business juggling with Lucy Innes Williams
An Art To It
Lucy Innes Williams runs not one, but two creative businesses - her fine art practice and her printed goods and stationery business, Floradore. In our really interesting chat Lucy reveals how she manages to balance the two separate entities, both linked by her love of capturing all things floral. We also discuss the journey Lucy has taken: a graduate in Fine Art from Central St Martins College in London, after leaving college Lucy didn’t feel either inspired or ready to begin a career as an artist. Spending some time interning in the USA after graduation encouraged her to pursue further...
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16: The art of taking every opportunity, with Helen Wilde
An Art To It
Textile artist Helen Wilde, aka Ova Bloom has made a career of being in the right place at the right time and grasping every opportunity with both hands. From work experience, (with no less than artist Tom Phillips to art college, and her subsequent successful career, Helen has been fortunate at meeting the right people and the most opportune moment. But that shouldn’t detract from her achievements: her work features in numerous bedroom suites at London Dorchester Hotel, she counts several high profile American celebrities amongst her collectors… oh and as a 7 year old her art work won a...
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15: Colours and Lines, a Glass Act with Ruth Shelley
An Art To It
Colour is at the very heart of Ruth Shelley’s creative life. Growing up in rural Wales with limited external entertainment, making and domestic creativity were at the heart of her childhood, and inspired her move to study textiles at art college. Travel and finding inspiration in the colours and patterns of south east Asia continued to influence her textile work but stumbling on an evening class in stained glass opened up a whole new creative adventure for Ruth. In our chat Ruth reflects on her creative path as well as her travels and inspirations - both overseas and closer to...
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14: Mapping a career in ceramics with Loraine Rutt
An Art To It
A love of making - and of maps - has taken ceramic artist Loraine Rutt on an unusual but very successful creative journey. Loraine began her career as a cartographer at London’s Birkbeck College but when digitalisation of maps meant that she would be using a computer rather than the more physical approach of a pencil and tracing paper, she decided to pursue her earlier dream of going to art college. A degree in ceramics from London’s Central School for Art and Design (later Central St Martins ) began her creative career which now sees her specialising in ceramic maps and globes with her...
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13: The Fine Art of Fashion with Sophie Harding
An Art To It
Growing up as part of a creative family - and a keen painter from an early age - it was no surprise that Sophie Harding decided to attend art college. But inspired by a documentary she watched as a teenager it was the Fashion course at St Martin’s college that Sophie enrolled on. In my chat with Sophie - whose stunning paintings I’m fortunate to exhibit regularly at the Byre Gallery - we discuss how a deciding that a fashion career wasn’t for her, lead her to a full time career as a painter, via a foray into illustration. You can see Sophie’s work on her website: where you...
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12. An Insider’s Guide to Gallery Success: Bonus Session
An Art To It
This is a cheeky little extra session where I talk about my online course ‘An Insider’s Guide to Gallery Success’ and explain why with a number of alternatives to learn about how to best approach - and develop a relationship - with galleries, mine might be the right one for you. There are three reasons that this course fits the bill for you: The Byre Gallery, which I founded in 2014, is a welcoming and elegant space with carefully curated exhibitions of lovely work in contemporary craft and fine art; it’s the sort of gallery any art or interiors lover wants to spend time. It’s not...
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11: Alchemy: Blending art and science into jewellery with Beverly Bartlett
An Art To It
After a successful career as a scientist, Beverly Bartlett turned her jewellery making hobby into her new profession. In our chat, we discuss how Bev has drawn on her scientific knowledge to support not only the technical aspects of jewellery making, but also the aesthetic inspiration for many of her collections. We chat about the various shows and events that Beverly exhibits and sells her work from, and she passes on some very useful tips for making your experience of taking part in a selling event a super smooth one. You can see Bev’s jewellery on her website: and on Instagram at...
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10: Successfully finding the right creative path with Sarah Hutt
An Art To It
Sarah Hutt is a Northamptonshire based visual artist whose creative journey has taken her from print design, via teaching to being a painter. In this lively and honest chat, Sarah shares the stages of her journey, and talks candidly about her decision to quit a senior job in education, sell her home and downsize to living on a narrowboat to put herself in the best position to launch a new creative career. You can see Sarah’s work online at and on Instagram she is @Sarahhutt_art Sarah’s studio is at The Depot, Weedon Bec in Northamptonshire A Grade Two listed site with heritage status for...
info_outlineTextile artist Helen Wilde, aka Ova Bloom has made a career of being in the right place at the right time and grasping every opportunity with both hands. From work experience, (with no less than artist Tom Phillips https://www.tomphillips.co.uk/ to art college, and her subsequent successful career, Helen has been fortunate at meeting the right people and the most opportune moment. But that shouldn’t detract from her achievements: her work features in numerous bedroom suites at London Dorchester Hotel, https://www.dorchestercollection.com/london/the-dorchester/rooms-suites/hyde-park-suite she counts several high profile American celebrities amongst her collectors… oh and as a 7 year old her art work won a coveted place on the gallery wall in BBC TV’s children’s art favourite, Take Hart.
In our lively chat Helen reflects on her creative journey and how at various points her career may have taken a different path. Making friends with a young customer whilst working in skateboard shop during her college years, she then met his father who just happened to be (the now late) Daniel Hanson, www.danielhanson.co.uk - maker of exquisite gentlemen’s dressing gowns (Elton John is a serious fan) and he offered her a job. Several fun-filled years of working in fashion in New York - channeling Carrie Bradshaw - followed. Back in the UK Helen reveals how the urge for making took off and she was soon selling via Instagram and Etsy. Press coverage in the US citing her as ‘the next big thing’ launched her American following. And the rest, as they say is history.
You can see Helen’s work on instagram @ovobloom and her website is ovobloom.com where you can find links to all her upcoming exhibitions and ways to buy her gorgeous work.