Failure—just the word itself can make our hearts sink. It’s a punch to the gut, a reality check, and something we’re often taught to avoid at all costs. But what if I told you that failure is one of the most valuable tools in your creative, entrepreneurial, or goal-setting journey?
I know, I know—no one wants to fail. But here's the thing: failure is, somewhat, inevitable, and it’s packed with hidden benefits that can actually move you forward in ways success alone never could.
Read MoreIn the latest Creative Nowhere Land Podcast episode, I’m excited to feature Ava Khera, a talented self-taught oil painter and runner-up in last year's Women in Art Prize. Known for her evocative portrayals of women and their deep connection to the natural world, Ava's artwork resonates with viewers, inviting them to explore the hidden narratives woven into her pieces below the surface.
Read MoreDiscover the secrets to scaling your brand and making money with Wizz Selvey, of Wizz&Co. An expert strategist with 20 years of experience and a client list of the who’s who of brands. Recognised as one of the top retail experts of 2024, Wizz is a sought-after speaker on stages and panels worldwide, and she agreed to come on to the Creative Nowhere Land Podcast to give us some of her valuable insights.
Wizz unpacks her journey from creative beginnings in textile design, to shaping some of the biggest names in retail while working as Head of Buying for Selfridges, and now working to help brands build and scale. With a blend of creativity and sharp business insight, she offers actionable advice that will leave you inspired and help get you ready to elevate your brand.
Read MoreIn the latest Creative Nowhere Land Podcast episode, I’m thrilled to feature, my good friend, Paul Stringer. An award-winning documentary filmmaker, photographer, and now studio owner who has carved a unique niche in his love for poetry and social impact storytelling. Paul's journey from an eager media student to a socially conscious storyteller exemplifies the transformative power of seizing opportunities and pursuing your passion.
Read MoreIf anyone knows how to achieve goals it’s Arran Gulliver. An all-around inspiring guy and also a professional athlete and member of the record-breaking British bobsleigh team. Who, in 2023, Arrans's debut season, made history by winning gold at the European Bobsleigh Championships and silver at the World Championships.
Arran and his teammates Brad Hall, Greg Cackett and Taylor Lawrence, have excelled as a team and finally ended an 84-year wait for a four-man bobsleigh world championship medal for Great Britain. But any road to greatness requires you to overcome challenges, be determined and most importantly be disciplined.
Read MoreDaniel Lopez is a versatile visual artist renowned for his work across multiple disciplines, including ceramics and watercolour. Born in Andalusia, Spain, Daniel's artistic path was profoundly influenced by his mother, a professional printer, and his creative upbringing. His journey from Spain to England, via Cuba, and his subsequent artistic rebirth is a testament to his dedication, versatility, and unwavering passion for art.
Daniel is celebrated for his ability to traverse multiple artistic disciplines with ease. Finding the right medium to express his creative language. Daniel’s work in ceramics and watercolour exemplifies his diverse skill set and his capacity to innovate within traditional mediums. Each piece, whether it’s a dramatic watercolour painting or a finely crafted ceramic sculpture of a cardboard box, showcases his meticulous attention to detail and his profound understanding of form, technique and colour.
Read MoreIn this blog, I am excited to introduce Sophie Rose Walters, an incredibly talented artist whose work is deeply influenced by traditional Japanese art and the captivating stories of Geisha culture, despite being a Brummie artist with Italian roots.
Sophie’s work blends traditional Japanese art with more modern techniques and a hell of a lot of colour. Unlike much of the original Japanese art. Sophie’s style is vibrant and bold. But finding your style can be tough for any creative. For Sophie, it was through extensive exploration and experimentation that she discovered hers. By trying out different techniques and styles, she was able to find what resonated with her.
Read MoreI’m thrilled to announce the launch of the revamped Creative Nowhere Land website and the debut of the Creative Nowhere Land Podcast! The fresh, streamlined website design is tailored to enhance your experience, making it easier for you to find valuable content and inspiration. This transformation marks a significant shift from focusing on my individual artistic expression to creating a supportive space for creatives, entrepreneurs, and goal-driven individuals.
Read MoreChange is coming, bringing a wave of excitement to Creative Nowhere Land! It’s time for a bold new chapter in the journey, with a fresh website design on the way, a brand new inspiring podcast and a much more universal new blog that focuses more on helping you, the viewer. The aim is to elevate your creative experience and, hopefully, provide you with even more value and inspiration on whatever journey you’re on. Whether you're a long-time follower or new to the community, dive in and explore what's coming next for Creative Nowhere Land and why it’s important to embrace change.
Read MoreWhat makes a ‘good’ portrait? Every face is different and how we view those faces is so subjective. But, a ‘good’ portrait has to make a connection in some way, and allow you to feel something. This isn’t always an easy thing to do. That’s why, I’m super excited to share some fantastic news, which you might have already seen on my social media – one of my portraits made it into the RBSA Portrait Exhibition 2024 and is currently on show at the gallery. This is such a cool honour, and I couldn't be happier, especially as I wasn’t even sure I was going to enter anything.
Read MoreHere in Creative Nowhere Land, I’m all about trying something different, pushing the boundaries of what I feel I’m capable of and getting out of my comfort zone. I truly believe that’s the way we all grow as humans. So, I’m embracing the exhilarating (not nerve-wracking at all!) challenge of getting in front of the camera again to share some insights, experiences, and, hopefully, a whole lot of inspiration. Exploring some of the universal issues that artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs face, and ones that I’m facing on my journey. So, grab your popcorn, hit that play button, and let's dive in. It's time to try something different!
Read MoreLet’s face it! We’re all a little nosey and have wondered at some point... What goes on behind closed doors? It’s the age-old question that’s led to countless tales, theories, assumptions and especially when it comes to sex and relationships.
Sex, the ultimate behind-closed-doors activity, has long been shrouded in mystery and fascination. It was once the stuff of whispered conversations, secret glances, and clandestine rendezvous. But why the secrecy?
Read MoreThe clue’s in the title really! But, yes I'm starting a podcast! A new chapter of creativity, inspiration, and artistic exploration for me and Creative Nowhere Land that I’ve been talking about for a long time. I truly believe that in the vast landscape of artistry and creative expression, there's always room for more voices, more stories, and more inspiration. So over the past few months, I’ve started to sit down, delve deep, and record some captivating conversations with some of the most interesting and inspiring humans in my life. The results of which, I'll be turning into The Creative Nowhere Land Podcast.
Read MoreDon’t worry! I know it’s the end of December but this blog has nothing to do with Christmas or those somewhat ambitious, often unachievable, January goals! I’m sure you’re all bored of hearing about them by now anyway, as we all sit in the limbo of the post-Christmas week slump! No! This is about something way more important, well to me anyway—my first international exhibition at the Fotonosturm Gallery in Barcelona, Spain.
Read MoreThere are always opportunities to grab creative inspiration in life. But, some are better than others. Getting out of your comfort zone and into a new environment can be a great catalyst for new inspiration. Travelling is more than a mere journey from one place to another; it's a chance to feed the creative soul and unlock the hidden inspirations that the normal day-to-day, perhaps, can’t. When we put ourselves in new environments, we naturally become more observant. New sights, sounds, smells etc. New ‘inputs’ everywhere that, in turn, might help inspire our future creative ‘outputs’. So, in need of a few new inputs, I was lucky enough to be invited to Malaga in Spain, to see what I could discover…
Read MoreThere’s something about being recognised for our pursuits and endeavors that just feels good. Especially as a creative. No matter what we might say outwardly, I think we all crave some sort of validation and connection with others. Something to tell us that we’re on the right path, however slowly it may be taking us to walk it. I recently had one of those moments...
That moment came in the form of an email. And as a result, I’ve got some exciting news to share with you all. I’ve received not just one, but TWO honorable mentions in the 19th Pollux Photography Awards! And to top it all off, two of my images will be showcased in an exhibition at the Fotonostrum Gallery in Barcelona this December.
Read MoreDo you have a love/hate relationship with social media? Choosing the right platform? Always having to be active, staring at a screen to keep up the small bit of engagement you might have? Or do you have a huge following and can’t get enough of social media? Either way, building Email Newsletter Subscribers might still be a game-changer for artists and creators in 2023.
I started an Email Newsletter in the very early stages of Creative Nowhere Land. But, I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise the potential advantages of really trying to get people to sign up. Until now! So, I’ve been going a little deeper into this topic, about the power of building your email newsletter subscribers versus relying solely on social media platforms. And, I’m learning how it can, potentially, make a huge difference in your artistic journey.
Read MoreStrummer’s Law states, “No Input, No Output.” Named after a quote by the lead singer of The Clash, Joe Strummer, it’s a law that all of us creatives probably need to follow if we’re not already. Meaning that without a constant flow, or regular updates of inspiration into our lives, ideas can run out. Leading to yes, you guessed it, no output! It’s like a circle. We need to feed our imaginations with input, in order to have ideas and to create the output. So, that was the mission this week… Input!
Read MoreAs creatives we all have doubts! I’ve spoken a lot about ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and how, in some cases, it can hold us back from the life that we want. It happens to all of us, and one of the best ways to combat that nasty voice of doubt in your head is to take action. More doing and less thinking! (Thinking vs Doing). So, when the voice inside my head started piping up again recently, that’s exactly what I did. Less thinking and more doing, and I’m so glad I did! As maybe here is some evidence that I’m not quite the imposter I thought. I present ‘Exhibit RBSA’ to the court…
Read MoreSometimes it’s not the end product that matters, it’s the process. Simply enjoying the act of making and creating something, for the sake of, well, making and creating something! When you're a professional creative it's always about the end product or meeting a brief. And sometimes creating for creating's sake goes out the window. We all have bills to pay! But, there are so many benefits to it. So, when was the last time you created something simply for the fun of it?
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