Extraordinary Creatives

Ceri examines how to liberate creative authenticity by offering ideas for artists who feel creatively blocked. She shares five actionable methods to escape creative paralysis and embrace your unique artistic voice. Ceri also provides examples from pioneering artists like Lindsey Mendick and Laure Prouvost, who dared to be different, and suggests exercises for practising these five ways to be bolde...

Ceri speaks with artist Erica Eyres, whose work masterfully balances on the edge of discomfort and revelation. Erica shares her creative process, including how she transforms found images into haunting portraits and creates ceramic replicas of mundane objects. The conversation explores the delicate dance between artistic freedom and commercial success and how understanding and overcoming your crea...

Join Ceri for a short solo episode where she details how you can create more time to do what you love as a creative. KEY TAKEAWAYS Conduct a time audit: Where is your time actually being spent currently? Track your time in 30 minute chunks for 3 days and see where your time is going. Categorise your time and look at how you can prioritise differently and amend to free up more time for creativity....

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can help more of you be braver, create the work you truly want to make, and stop second-guessing yourself. It feels urgent. So, I’m launching a new weekly short podcast episode called Beat the Block – a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point shot of creative support. Each week, I’ll share three tips drawn from Donkey's years in the arts – learned from the incredibl...

From growing up in the Middle East where theatre was banned to leading one of London's most innovative cultural spaces, Tarek Iskander's journey is a masterclass in transformative leadership. In this candid conversation, he reveals how his NHS background shapes his mission driven approach at Battersea Arts Centre, championing bold, experimental work while making art accessible through initiatives...

Join Ceri as she speaks with Althea Greenan, curator of the Women's Art Library at Goldsmiths. From slide libraries to digital archives, Althea shares her experiences and activism through preserving and championing women's art for over 30 years. This episode is an exploration of how archives can be living, breathing spaces that inspire movements and create change. Through personal anecdotes and re...

Ceri interviews internationally acclaimed artist Catherine Yass, whose groundbreaking lens-based work pushes the boundaries of photography and film. The conversation explores her innovative techniques, including her distinctive method of layering negatives and positives, her relationship with architectural spaces, and her thoughts on time, failure, and resistance in art. This episode offers a fasc...

In this episode, Ceri talks about cultural curation with Salma Tuqan, Director of Nottingham Contemporary. From her early days at Art Dubai to influential roles at the V&A and beyond, Salma shares her views on how cultural institutions can evolve, adapt, and remain relevant in challenging times. Salma explores everything from collection strategies to institutional sustainability while highlighting...

Ceri talks with Lisa Cooley, a former New York gallerist turned art advisor. Lisa shares how she went from being an accidental gallery worker to running her own acclaimed Lower East Side gallery for nine years. With remarkable honesty, she discusses the challenges of managing a gallery through a recession, the toll on mental and physical health, and the complexities of artist-dealer relationships....

In this special end of year solo episode, Ceri answers questions from her mastermind community members. From exhibition planning and pricing artwork to connecting with collectors and maintaining social media boundaries, she gives her expert advice from her extensive experience in the art world. KEY TAKEAWAYS When planning exhibitions, start with self-reflection about your goals and desired outcome...

Ceri speaks with polymath Louise Gray, whose creative career spans textiles, fashion, costume, sound, and writing. Louise shares her experiences in fashion, textile design, and education, discussing her bold aesthetic choices, fearless approach to creativity, and commitment to authenticity. Her journey from establishing her own fashion label to teaching at Central Saint Martins, and currently vent...

Ceri speaks with Lady Skollie, a bold South African artist who fearlessly challenges artistic conventions. From her early days at a specialist art school to becoming an internationally acclaimed painter, Lady Skollie shares her journey as a modern day cave painter and gives her experiences of gallery relationships, motherhood, and maintaining artistic integrity. Her original perspectives on the ar...

In this episode, Ceri speaks with Jennifer Higgie, whose evolution from painting lemons to shaping Frieze magazine spans more than two decades. She opens up about the realities of the art world, the necessity of creative discipline, and her mission to respect artists' work with authenticity. Through her shift from art critic to author uncovering hidden women artists in art history, Jennifer demons...

Ceri brings together three artists who transformed the Green Man Festival into a magical artistic playground. Lexi Zelda Stevens, Megan Broadmeadow, and Angela Davies share their experiences of creating ambitious installations in challenging outdoor environments. From holographic fans in the woods to midnight performances on rafts, they reveal the intricate dance of artistic vision, technical expe...

Ceri speaks with Dhikshana Turakhia Pering, who has over 18 years of experience in museums, galleries and the wider cultural and creative world. As Head of Creative Programmes at London Museum, Dhikshana talks to Ceri about her journey from Science Museum explainer to cultural leader and reveals how her neurodiversity shaped her approach to leadership. She discusses the importance of joy and hope...

Ceri interviews Gavin Wade, the visionary artist curator behind Eastside Projects and Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University. From his early love of comics to founding one of the UK's most innovative art spaces, Gavin talks to Ceri about transforming the art world through collaborative practices. His story of creating a new kind of gallery space, winning a £120 million market redevel...

Ceri speaks with Nick Ryan, an Emmy and BAFTA award-winning sound artist who has revolutionised how we experience sound. From his early days experimenting in his garden shed to creating interactive radio dramas and transforming public spaces with sound installations, Nick's journey is all about creative evolution. Nick talks to Ceri about confidence, collaboration, and the importance of asking for...

Technology meets art as Ceri is joined by Mexican-Canadian media artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, whose works are in collections worldwide such as MoMA, Guggenheim, TATE, Reina Sofía, and Hirshhorn. He shares his journey from nightclub owner's son to internationally acclaimed artist and how it shaped his unique approach to creating participatory experiences. From transforming the US-Mexico border to m...

Ceri is joined by Marine Tanguy, the pioneering founder of MTArt Agency. From managing a gallery at 21 to founding the art world's first talent agency at 25, Marine shares her journey of revolutionising how artists are represented and supported. Ceri and Marine talk about building resilience, visual literacy, and creating new opportunities for artists. Marine also opens up about overcoming persona...

Ceri explores the world of digital art and creative leadership with Tom Higham, Creative Director and founder of Mediale. Tom shares his knowledge and experience, from film festivals to cutting-edge digital projects, and gives his thoughts on artist development, community engagement, and the challenges of running a creative organisation. Ceri and Tom also talk about personal health, leadership sty...

Join Ceri as she interviews acclaimed artist Emma Talbot. From her childhood drawings to art installations, Emma shares her experiences of finding her authentic voice, transforming personal experiences into universal art, and creating without external validation. KEY TAKEAWAYS Emma's early drawings were a form of escape and freedom during a challenging childhood, highlighting art's therapeutic pot...

Ceri explores the dynamic creative journey of Connal Orton, a versatile talent who's traversed theatre, television, and psychological thrillers. Connal shares his knowledge and personal experiences of creative leadership, embracing risk, and finding joy in the process. From directing plays to executive producing hit TV shows and now crafting gripping novels, Connal's story is a masterclass in adap...

This special episode is an audio version of a talk Ceri gave the brilliant Working Class Creatives Database in collaboration with Second Act Gallery funded by Arts Council England. Ceri talks all about the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome among creative professionals. Drawing from her extensive experience in the arts, Ceri offers practical help and ideas to overcome self doubt and build creati...

Ceri speaks to Ana Maria Caballero, a Colombian-born literary artist who is breaking boundaries in the world of poetry. From selling a poem at Sotheby's to collaborating with AI, Ana Maria's journey reflects the power of persistence and innovation. She talks about balancing creativity with practicality, embracing collaboration, and reimagining classic literature for new generations, to inspire cre...

In this episode, Ceri talks about the art of connecting with art collectors. She breaks down the three main types of collectors, offers strategies for engaging each, and shares her knowledge on building genuine relationships in the art world. Ceri gives tips and examples as she decodes the complex world of art collecting, making it accessible and actionable for creatives at any stage of their care...