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STEPPING GENTLY INTO 2026: PAUSE, REFLECT, AND PREPARE Happy New Year, my friends! It feels so good to be back. As 2026 begins, you might be noticing a quiet stillness - a feeling that the year hasn't quite arrived, that you're not ready to rush forward just yet. This is a beautiful time to slow down, to shed what no longer serves you, and to get clear on how you truly want to feel. For me, it's been about noticing patterns, releasing old habits, and gently tuning in to what brings ease, joy, and creativity. Before the year picks up pace, take a moment with me: What do you need to let go of? How do you want your days to feel as you step into 2026?   THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE: SHEDDING AND STILLNESS This period has been about noticing what no longer serves me: physical clutter, teaching habits, limiting beliefs, and thought patterns. I'm shedding. And the idea of starting the year at full gallop doesn't feel right just yet. There's power in pausing, observing, and allowing the stillness to guide us. I've been running my online event, Design Your Life, for over seven years. Usually, this season sees a surge of energy, goal-setting, and action. This year is different. The retreat, too, has shifted focus from goals to release, preparing us for the upcoming Year of the Fire Horse - a rare and potent astrological shift not seen since the 15th century.   FINANCIAL FREEDOM AS A STATE OF MIND One powerful insight came to me recently: financial freedom isn't about hitting a target number. It's a state of mind. You can have millions in the bank and still feel anxious or restricted. True freedom comes from cultivating a sense of ease, abundance, and joy in your life - independent of the digits in your account. This reflection has shaped my thinking for 2026. It's led me to ask myself: How do I want to feel? How do I want to spend my time? These simple but profound questions are guiding me to design a life aligned with creativity, intention, and personal growth.   Click here for the full show notes:  https://www.unitedartspace.org/youre-not-behind-youre-still-shedding/  

Ever wondered what it really takes to run a successful art gallery and online shop? In this week's episode, I'm chatting with The Two Faced Twins, Gemma and Stella, about how they built a warm, welcoming gallery, developed a signature style people instantly recognise, and turned their creativity into a thriving business. We talk about the power of knowing your audience, keeping things simple, showing up consistently, and staying playful even as your business grows. If you've ever dreamed of selling your work in a gallery or building an online shop that actually works, this conversation is packed with honest insights and down-to-earth advice.

Have you ever found yourself doing everything with your art but still not feeling clear? In this episode, I'm talking with Kellee Wynne about how to strip things back, reconnect with what you actually love, and turn your creativity into something sustainable without the overwhelm. We chat about choosing one focus, following the ideas that feel exciting, and building something meaningful that really helps people. If you've been feeling scattered or unsure where to put your energy next, this conversation might be exactly what you need.

Have you ever felt like your old ways of working or creating no longer fit? In this episode, I sit down with Sheryl Garratt, writer, creative coach and former editor of The Face and The Observer Magazine, to explore what it truly means to start again. We dive into the art of reinvention, how to follow curiosity when life shifts, and why starting over is never really from scratch. You are building on all the experience you already have. If you are ready to embrace change or reignite joy in your creative work, this conversation is a reminder that every ending opens the door to something new.   Website: thecreativelife.net   Free 10-day course with 10 foundations for growing your creative business: https://tcl.kit.com/grow   10 YEARS OF UNITED ARTSPACE In-Person Event | 17th April 2026 Celebrate our anniversary with us. Learn more here: https://unitedartspace.myflodesk.com/10-years-of-uas

This episode is a special one because next April marks 10 years of United ArtSpace. But today isn't really about me or the business. It's about you: the artists, dreamers, and makers who've been part of this journey. Whether you joined last week or you've been here since the early days, you're part of something that has changed countless lives, including my own. Over the last decade, I've learned so much about what it really takes to build a creative life. Not just how to make art, but how to live creatively, keep going when it's hard, and find the people who remind you why you started. In this episode, I'm sharing three big lessons that have shaped everything I've learned from these ten years. Lessons that I hope will inspire and guide you wherever you are on your own creative path. As we look ahead to our in-person anniversary event next April, Live, Create, Become, I want to invite you to celebrate with us. It's going to be a powerful day of connection, reflection, and creativity. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's take a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far we've come together.   10 YEARS OF UNITED ARTSPACE - IN-PERSON EVENT  Join us for an in-person day where you can focus on your next creative chapter.  You will focus on how to live, create and the person you will become. With artist talks, art making and real connection you will leave this event with friends for life and a bigger sense of your creative purpose. Food and drink are provided so all you have to do is turn up! >> CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The world is changing fast, and as artists, we feel it deeply. Whether it's in your work, your business, or life itself, change can bring fear and uncertainty but it can also open the door to something new. In this episode, I talk about how I handle change when everything feels unsettled: how I ground myself, tune out the noise, and trust the next step even when I can't see the full path yet.

Growing as an artist or creative can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. The pressure to keep up, the endless to-do lists, and the feeling that you should always be doing more - it takes a toll. In this episode, I'm joined by LaKisha Mosley, who shares openly about her own experiences with mental health and why she's so passionate about creating safe spaces where people feel seen and heard. We talk about why rest isn't indulgent but essential, how boundaries can protect your energy, and why you don't need fixing - you just need support.

Whose voice are you really listening to when you create? 👀 Friends, family, strangers and all their opinions can be endless. I've been there, making choices based on what others thought was "right" instead of trusting my gut. This week, I'm sharing why following your intuition matters more than chasing trends or bending to advice. And I'll tell you how my Nanny Dot inspired me to stay true to myself and stop changing for others.

Time off isn't indulgent, it's essential. If you're someone who throws yourself fully into projects and finds it hard to slow down, this episode is for you. I'll share practical ways I've learned to carve out breaks, manage the guilt, and use rest as fuel for creativity, clarity, and sustainable growth.

This week marks the 200th episode of the podcast - and I just want to start by saying a huge thank you. When I launched this podcast all those years ago, I wasn't sure if I had enough ideas, let alone another hundred episodes in me. But your support, your listening, and your stories have kept me going and I'm so glad they have. In this special episode, I'm bringing it back to the heart of why I started: your art matters. I'll be talking about creativity in all its forms, the journey of the last 200 episodes, and what's next for us as we move into the future together.

Ever feel like your brain is spinning and you can't even grasp a clear thought? In this episode, I'm sharing what that feels like for me and the 3 practical steps I take to reduce the overwhelm, refocus, and get back to myself. Whether it's a massive to-do list, overstimulation, or just a noisy brain (hello, creative life), this is a gentle episode to help you find calm again - one step at a time.

If your brain is full of creative ideas, projects, and "what ifs" and you're struggling to choose what to focus on next - this episode is for you. I'm sharing how I take all the ideas out of my head and onto paper, how I organise them into meaningful categories, and how I figure out what actually matters most right now. This is the process I use to go from "everything feels important" to "this is what I'm doing next" - in a way that feels calm, focused, and true to the kind of life I want to design.

Half the year has gone already. If you haven't had a chance to stop and reflect yet, you're not alone. In this episode, I walk through my mid-year review process. From creating a timeline of the past six months to mind-mapping what I want more of, this is how I reset, refocus, and gently bring myself back to what's important. You don't need fancy planners or perfect goals. Just a bit of time, a pen, and some honesty about what's working and what's not. I hope it gives you a bit of space to pause and check in with where you are and where you want to go next.   Inside The Hub, we do this kind of work together — regularly. If you want support and space to design a life that feels like yours, get on the waitlist now.   🔗 Join the waitlist: >>CLICK HERE  

Teaching art comes with a lot of questions, and one of the biggest is, how do you protect what you're sharing? In this episode, you'll hear from Kimberly Bennett, a lawyer and brand strategist who breaks down what artists need to know when teaching online. Think: setting boundaries, creating refund policies, and making sure your content is protected. This was originally recorded for the Teach Your Art Summit, but due to a tech issue during the event, we weren't able to share it live, so we're bringing it to you here as a podcast instead.  

What if hitting rock bottom was the start of something amazing?  In this episode, I'm joined by Heidi Easley - artist, author and founder of Paint Party Headquarters - who shares her incredible journey from bankruptcy to building a 7-figure business through art and creativity. If you've ever felt stuck or unsure if your creative path could actually support you, Heidi's story will open your eyes to what's possible. She's also one of our featured speakers at the Teach Your Art Summit, and you can sign up now using the link below. Don't miss it - it's free and packed with ways you can make impact and income through teaching your art. https://teachyourart.org