For artists, creators, makers and producers in the creative sector there are many challenges. As an Arts graduate I had the great fortune of coming from a family in business which helped navigate my career as a Fashion Design graduate in a highly competitive and scarce jobs market. Over 30…
35 years on are Art Colleges teaching graduates how to sustain an income & career in the Arts? Since an early age I have always loved listening to great storytellers; especially authentic life stories. An interest that began listening to my Dad with his adventures as an entrepreneur selling his…
Scotland has a wonderful and rich reputation for its great cultural and creative events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture. As an ex-student of Edinburgh College of Art I had the great pleasure of studying and…
What do we need from Children’s Authors and Illustrators in 2022? As a mum of three the past nineteen months could have been either the most positive or most negative experience for my children. So what should a new children’s author be writing about in 2022? What do kid’s need?…
The Sacred Chapter of Life ‘Childhood- a time and space for only childlike thoughts and things’…..
My favourite book of all time is ‘Think and Grow Rich’. Over the years I have possessed various editions which I frequently have to replace as I keep giving them away or lending them to someone in need of a little inspiration. My dad first introduced me to the book…
What was your first baby book? Can you remember the first book you ever read? My earliest memories of reading are associated with a collection of Ladybird books. Our family book collection included Rumpelstiltskin, Puss in Boots, The Three Billy goats Gruff. Plus The Elves and the shoemaker and my…
What are the challenges of trying to break through as a Scottish Children’s Author & Illustrator in 2021? With the ever growing opportunities and tools available to create and publish your own books in the year 2021 the book and publishing industry is becoming an ever crowded space. Everyone with…
As a Scottish Children’s Author and illustrator I am always inspired by the great authors and illustrators that have came from the United Kingdom from Roald Dahl, J K Rowling, Beatrix Potter, J M Barrie, Michael Morprugo to Julia Donaldson. As a country we have a rich heritage of creativity…
The great entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie shared with Napoleon Hill what he called the Power of the Mastermind Alliance or in its simplest form the power of Positive Friends. The lessons of ‘Think and Grow Rich’ are as relevant today as they were when published back in 1937. Yet…
One of the first books I ever read was ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ by Norman Vincent Peale a book that has become one of my life’s mantras. As an adult the core principle that has always served me through life’s challenges, up’s and down’s is having possession of my own mind and my goals and to look for the positive in every given situation- no matter how challenging.
‘The Sixth Characteristic of a Great Entrepreneur ‘THE REBEL: COURAGE’ As an Art student in the 80’s my melting pot of peer’s were what I would best describe as ‘Rebels’ -Free Thinkers, Mavericks, Outliers & Critical Thinkers. As an unconfident speaker as a student I became a great observer and…
New Children’s Illustrator 2022? So why do I love being a Scottish Children’s Illustrator? My greatest pride as a 10 year old was the old diary I carried everywhere, which I filled with my copies of Disney characters. This was the beginning of my love for drawing & illustrating children’s…
My Gran the inspiration for “The Entrepreneur; White Ball Thinking” Mary Dermody There were three things everyone knew about Mary Dermody: her tireless work ethic, forthrightness and energy for life. But her fellow workers knew nothing about this young woman or her past and what fuelled her powerful sense of…
