Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T. S. Eliot
I have been mentoring and coaching artists since 2017, offering a safe, private and confidential space to explore students work and ambitions to go further with their art. I combine my 20 years as a self employed graphic designer with 20 years of fine art experience. I have qualifications in the arts, coaching and teaching, as well as a business experience in the arts world. With the student’s permission I mix both mentoring and coaching up a little and believe this holistic approach is both challenging to the student as well as giving of my knowledge.
Mentoring/Coaching allows you to explore deeply your own journey, verbalise what you are thinking, it gives space for communicating things you may not even be aware of, maybe it is a confusion that you need help to unravel. A mentor/coach is a person with whom you build a working relationship, who is there to feedback, critique, reflect, listen, give opinions, sometimes judgements (remember it is only ONE opinion), push, challenge; but ultimately holds the artist in a safe space, entirely confidentially. To be an artist is more than just your skill, it involves business acumen; how do you do it? What steps do you need to take first? How do you get your work out there? How do you think and write about your work? Where can you show your work? What do YOU want from being an artist? Working over time, with meetings booked in the diary every two/three months, if you wish it – it gives an accountability and momentum that drives you forward when perhaps you are stuck. And we all get stuck!
Over the years I have been teaching I am told I can bring out of people work they never knew existed, my students remain with me, they continue to learn and grow. Mentoring/Coaching is more in depth and personal… a special time for you.
You only want mentoring and or coaching if you have the ambition to do more, to find yourself, and call yourself an artist.
Please see here for my coaching website and more testimonials, as well specific art testimonials as below.
“Jane asked me thought provoking questions that lead me towards a reckoning with my own process with a warm and genuine interest in my work. She manages to bring her own insights without judgement and directs in a suggestive way that I felt to be honouring of my own voice in my work. I came away feeling heard and nudged toward my full potential”. DC
“I have been having one to one coaching/mentoring with Jane for a year; she is a natural teacher, coach and mentor. She ably combines freedom with boundaries, skill with imagination, rigour with relaxation. She has allowed me to grow imaginatively and creatively both as an individual and as a contributor to a group. She inspires confidence. She modestly gives of herself and her life’s experiences. Jane encourages a persons innate talent, sets boundaries, challenges in a compassionate clear manner. She gives focus to the student and their work”. HS
“Through your patience and encouragement you have helped me discover, through art, ways of painting that are a complete surprise to me. I found a wonderful gift that has been hidden away for years and without your help I would never have found it. Thank you.” EM
“Jane has provided one to one mentoring and coaching support to help me continue to develop my art practice. As a novice this has been extremely beneficial to me. Jane has supported me to develop my skills, and style, across a variety of unfamiliar drawing and painting media. She has provided valuable knowledge and insights into new ways of working at an appropriate pace and through experimentation and feedback. Sessions with Jane have provided encouragement and support as well as more direct coaching to help me acquire technical knowledge and skills development. Her feedback is always constructive but equally important are the questions and challenges which encourage self development and build on areas of existing confidence and competence whilst promoting new ideas and areas to explore. Sessions are serious but fun, technical but strong on motivation and encouragement and above all very much influenced by what we both bring to them.” AB
The meetings are either held in my studio near Bovey Tracey where there is plenty of space to show your work for discussion; or by video conferencing.
If you’d like more detail, please call me – 07973 709902, or email