Dear fellow voyager in this little Life Boat,
I offer one-to-one mentoring as a way to give my focused attention to those who want to grow creatively as artists and writers.
I work with visual artists and writers of memoir and narrative non-fiction, as creative mentor, book coach and developmental editor. My special sweet spot is right between words and images. I love to work with visual artists who want to explore the creative and professional potential of writing as part of their practice, and with writers who want to bring more of the visual world into their text.
My approach to mentoring has developed over decades, shaped by a commitment to learning as a continuous, gentle nudging at my own ‘growth edge’ and an acceptance of my introvert nature. I have blended my many learnings from a creative practice spanning 35 years: drawing, creative, academic and reflective writing, environmental philosophy, meditation practice, educational research, teaching in universities and art schools, doctoral supervision, and used this to develop my approach to facilitating the creative lives of others.
I offer creative and professional mentoring on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. My method is to work slowly with you, over time, as together we explore and deepen the questions you bring to your work and discover the form it might take in the world.
You will have my full attention, warm support, wide experience and gentle encouragement for as long as you feel you need it. It’s a work of careful listening, gentle encouragement and quiet challenge, helping you deepen the questions you bring to your work.
Get in touch if you are interested. I offer an initial free session to get to know each other a little and explore how we might work together before we commit to each other.
Here’s what some of the lovely people I’ve worked with have to say about the experience…
“It’s been fantastic to have the full attention of someone who was able to pull together such a detailed overview and give such good advice. It's given me lots to think about and I’ve found it has functioned like a call to action. It's been transformative, and I don't say that lightly.”
Hilary Nicoll, Curator, academic and artist
“It's crazy how much progress I've made with all your incredible support and belief in me! I feel like I’ve gone supersonic! I see you as a gatherer of loose threads from seemingly random pieces, finding fascinating and insightful connections, and re-presenting them to me as a coherent narrative. It's teaching me to keep stepping back and re-evaluate my work as a whole. The brainstorming and clarification, the in-depth questions, as well as recommendations for resources to use or artists to research or books to read, have been hugely invaluable.”
Morag Thomson Merriman, Visual artist
Enrolling now! For visual artists. Let me help you articulate your art.
More client love….
“If you are a visual artist or writer and need first-rate creative coaching look no further than Sam. She has the depth of experience, and the skill to support and stimulate your creativity; she can help you reflect constructively on your work, develop an existing project or consider a fresh start. Sam is a scholar within her areas of expertise, and in parallel her practical on-point advice is valuable and thought-provoking for those she works with.”
Mary Waltham, Environmental artist
“It’s been an absolute joy to work with Sam! Her thoughtful feedback and support has given me so much confidence and actionable ideas to help propel my project forward. I highly recommend.“
Cami Flake, Multimedia storyteller
“Working with Sam has been exactly the type of support I needed at this time in my life. I was on the brink of making big life changes but I didn't realize it at the time, and I enjoyed the slow conversations centered around art and writing over the year. Her thoughtful commentary and insight into my writing has been exactly the gentle guidance I needed this year.”
Ghazala Datoo, Physician and essayist
About me….
When you work with me I bring you all my knowledge and experience as…
A visual artist with 35+ years of experience across a broad range of practices and contexts
A published author with Hachette, one of the ‘big four’ publishers
Author of a featured Substack newsletter with thousands of subscribers
A PhD in creative writing from the University of St Andrews
Masters level study in environmental philosophy, and study of Tibetan Buddhist texts at Samye Ling Kagyu monastery
Decades of teaching at UK Art Schools and Universities and research into learning and teaching in creative disciplines
Many years’ experience mentoring mid-career artists and helping memoir and narrative nonfiction authors write their books
An island-dweller, vegetable grower, sea swimmer, book lover, chicken keeper and obsessive drawer…
