Nitty Gritty

Story time this week. In light of recent events, I wanted to share my experience with galleries — the red flags I ignored, the things I’d do differently now, and the lessons that could have saved me a lot of pain and struggle. If you’re navigating gallery relationships, big opportunities, or that uneasy feeling you can’t quite name, this episode is for you.

This week, I caught up with illustrator, muralist, designer, and all-round creativity machine, Daren Thomas Magee, aka Real Fun, Wow!His work lives somewhere between imagination and reality—often landing in that weird, wonderful in-between space. With everything from prints and books to socks, posters, tapestry and tiles, it's obvious Daren is constantly pouring his creativity into every avenue he can and then sharing it with the world. We dive into everything from building a business from nothing, the highs and lows of money and mindset, and the self-doubt that still creeps in even when your work reaches millions.This episode is packed with wisdom and full of the kind of creative honesty we rarely get to hear.Find Real Fun, Wow on Instagram here, and online here.

This week, my studio partner Holly and I sit down in Byron with self-taught ceramic artist and educator Bianca Pintan, and walk away completely energised by her passion, creativity and warmth.Bianca’s bold colours, sculptural forms, and intuitive, hand-built process grew from playful experimentation in her garage into a body of work and workshops that inspire artists worldwide. Guided by colour, emotion, and intuition, she doesn’t gatekeep, she openly shares her process through online courses, believing that generosity only expands what’s possible.We dive into sharing trade secrets, finding balance, embracing flexible plans, and what it really takes to market yourself as a self-represented artist, both organically and through paid channels.It’s a grounded, expansive conversation packed with practical takeaways, fresh perspective, and a reminder that creativity is freedom.Explore Bianca’s work and courses on her website here, and on Instagram here.

This week, I’m in the studio of London-based Australian artist Jess Cochrane to chat through her modern take on a traditional art practice. ⁠Jess’s paintings depict scenes from the everyday with a focus on familiar scenes of gathering and the things we as humans tend to gather, focusing on themes of consumerism, pop culture and fashion. ⁠Jess shares openly about the ambition that drives her- a genuine pursuit of mastery, legacy, and a place among the greats. In this chat, we dig into the real-world themes in her work, her interesting perspectives on technology in art and social media life, balancing motherhood, and the freedom she found in starting her practice over.This one’s for anyone striving for something bigger in their craft and refusing to strive small!You can find Jess on Instagram here and on her website here.

This week I’m joined by UK-based artist, illustrator and curator Tabby Booth, whose work treads between illustration and traditional folk art painting. We get into the tension between being an “Instagram artist” versus a “real artist,” the snobbery that still lingers in traditional galleries, how to push through cringe to find success online, and the creative challenges of commission work.As an artist, gallery owner, and artist manager, Tabby offers a rare perspective on how the industry is shifting on all sides. She brings so much insight, honesty, and humour to this chat, plus a healthy dose of screw-the-naysayers energy.You can find Tabby’s work on her website here and on Instagram here, and check out Sailors Jail Gallery here.

To round off the Table Talk series, we’re sitting down with Layla Cluer, the creative force behind Softedge Studio and the mind behind the beautiful plates that graced our Table Talk lunch.Crafted by skilled makers in the tiny town of Hasami, Japan, Layla’s work reimagines the art of eating, blending form and function to bring beauty into everyday moments.In this chat, we hear the journey of Softedge, from finding and working with talented craftspeople in Japan to dealing with imitation and staying true to her craft while scaling her vision.You can find Softedge Studio on Instagram here and their website here!