Can you to tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure. I’m Susie or Suzko, whatever you prefer. Im a 28 year old artist, born and bred in London
Town and residing in Bow along with my partner and our cat, Si-Si.

How is the area of London in which you live in?

Well, I was brought up in North London and since then have moved all over South London and now
I’m East. I’m a relative newbie to the East End; I’ve always gone out round these parts but it’s the
first time setting up home here and so far, Im friggin loving it! Bow’s great! Im a stones throw away
from Viccy Park and the canals, real close to the artists communities of Fish Island and Hackney
Wick and a short bus ride from Shoreditch and the City. It’s just the perfect area.

Tell us a bit about your beatiful art!

I’ve been creating art all my life but only started selling paintings and working as a professional
about 4 years ago. I started as a portrait artist as this and figurative work is where my real passion
lies. I then progressed to doing very different subject matters such as ‘animals with weapons’ and
began focussing on a more illustrative style. It was during this period that I made friends with a great
group of other female artists and started doing live art events around the country.
Apart from all of this I also work as a freelance Stylist Assistant as Art doesn’t always pay the bills
but I absolutely love both of my careers and feel incredibly blessed to be able to live off them.

Do you think that the area in which you live has influenced your practice?
What about London in general?

I think London in general is a fantastic place for all creatively minded people. There are so many
opportunities to be found here. Having said that there is also a hell of a lot more competition as
there is so much talent to contend with that you have to fight to be seen or recognised at times. I think
London’s influenced my practice in terms of just allowing me the freedom to do what it is that I’m
doing, with the confidence to know that I can make a career out of what I love and not just keep it as a
passion or a hobby.

Is there any spot in your neighborhood that you like and would like to tell us
about? Or that inspire you in particular?

I love the area as a whole really but one place in particular that I drop by frequently is ‘Georges
Plaice’. It’s this amazing little shutter just down the road from me, run by Tom who sells fish and
seafood and all things East End. I tend to pass on the jellied eels but the prawns are crazy good!

Can you talk about your beautiful house? We are loving the colors and..what a
great terrace you got!

Yeah, I love our flat, it’s amaaaaazing! We moved here back in February this year and it was the
terrace that did it for us. There’s nothing like having your own private bit of outside paradise in a
city that’s so cramped and claustrophobic. My partner’s a music producer and we both work from
home half of the year. It doesn’t look like it but the flat’s actually pretty small but we’re gradually
making it work so that we don’t invade each others working space too much. The place is all white
which is a great excuse to inject as much vibrant colour into all the furnishings and accessories. I like colour. I guess this is pretty obvious to see through my paintings as well.

Is the any other city that you could see yourself living in?

Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona!! I haven’t managed to get over there in recent years but it’s always
been somewhere I’ve wanted to live at some point in my life. I love absolutely everything about the
place; the people, the vibe, the language, everything! I was very close to moving and studying there
at the age of 18 but backed out at the last minute . . . kicking myself for it now.

Do you have any advice for a young artist who is about to relocate to London?

Errrrr, having always lived here I can’t imagine what it must be like to move here for the first time.
If you have friends in London then look them up, if not, make some; quick. London can be lonely if
you don’t know people or the right places to go. Don’t be tempted to always lock yourself away at
home making art, it can be a very solitary existence that can bring you down. Get out there and meet
likeminded creatives. Have fun first, start working later.

Thank you Suzko for having us!

You can see more of Suzko’s work on here:

website: http://susielowe.carbonmade.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SUZKO-ART/331241971914

In which area of London do you live in? 

 

website: felicityingram.com

agency: clicks & contact

twitter: FelicityIngram

Can you to tell us a bit about yourself?
I am 23, Irish and my favourite colour is Green. Not because I’m Irish. Just BECAUSE.
I come from Co. Tipperary (Its a long way- if you know the song), moved to London when I was 19 and so have been here 4 years now (its amazing I got that right- maths isnt my strong point).
I like Italian food, or really any kind of food, walks across many rocky terrains, and laughing really loudly. There are some other fascinating things to know about me, but I like to keep people guessing…

How is the area of London in which you live in?
I live in Clapham Common and moved there recently from Stoke Newington. I’ve also lived in Fulham/Hammersmith and Angel. Call me biased but these are the best places in London. There is something particuarly special about Clapham- it has a great energy and lovely people. Plus I live near to the Common for torturous running and the Green (see above next to COLOUR).

Tell us a bit about your work
I trained at The London School of Dramatic Art on their Advanced Diploma course- I loved it and have worked consistently since, I think because of the wonderful training I received there- I was also a member of The National Youth Theatre. I recently played Isabella in “Measure for Measure” at The RSC Dell Theatre in Stratford with a Suffolk tour, and Petra in “No Lone Zone”- a site specific, devised piece at Studio 180 in Lambeth North. I recently shot the Independent Short “Colorblind” with Alexander Chard, directed by Al White, and have been a member of The Improsarios -an improvised theatre company based in London- for two years now. This year (2012) I also attained a place at The Drama Centre, and so am very excited about continuing my training there for another 3 years.

Do you think that the area in which you live has influenced your practice? What about London in general?
I think I am susceptible to the energy a place provides Yes- you become more connected to your environment the longer you live there. I’ve learnt that its incredibly important to be happy in your surroundings- it can make life very difficult if you arent. At the end of a day it’s essential to be able to close the door on the world and relax in a place you feel safe enough to just be.

Any inspiring spot in your neighborhood that you would like to tell us about?
So many lovely little shops, pubs, and cafes with character, so I’ll just mention the Common and its amazing Green. See above for COLOUR (Again).

Can you talk a bit about your place? You’ve been moving a lot in the past few months!
Yes! Well I lived in Fulham for 3 years with my sister and we thought that if we didnt move out when we did we never would! So she moved fast and well whilst I struggled to find somewhere for 4 months- London can make things like this tricky, the wiley minx. My beautiful friend Marie had to take all my belongings and I into her lovely flat in Angel, a dream spot to live. I eventually found a nice room in Stokey, but the environment wasnt what it needed to be so I moved here to Clapham and two awesome actor friends. We regularly recite monologues to each other, just for fun…!

Is the any other city that you could see yourself living in?
I would love to live anywhere in Italy or America for a period of time certainly, but also have a massive heart string tug for Copenhagen in Denmark.

Do you have any advice for a young artist who is about to relocate to London?
Travel light, manage your space and time well, do something creative everyday and DONT give up.

Thank you Avena for this great day in Calpham, we loved it there!

You can find out more about Avena here:

castingcallpro: http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/view.php?uid=237744

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AvenaWallace

Can you to tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a young architect originally from South Africa, but I have studied and am working in London. My primary interest within architecture is a social and therefore cultural one, I am fascinated by the many different people that live in London and how so many differing backgrounds, origins and beliefs can coincide and help define one singular city that is London.

How is the area of London in which you live in?

I live in Dalston, which has become rather gentrified over the last 15 years, but before that was quite a poor area, and still has a wide range of people living there, including many immigrants from Africa, I guess this aspect makes me feel sort of at home, Ridley Road provides a small slice of Africa within a western city.

Tell us a bit about your work!

As I mentioned before I am primarily an architect, my drawings painting and photographs are means to help me explore, understand, and re-imagine certain elements of culture, city and history. They could be described as working fragments, or palimpsests whereby I explore and test ideas that I am working with at the time.

Do you think that the area in which you live has influenced your practice? What about London in general?

Certainly it has, it reminds me constantly about the multi-cultural and ‘internationalness’ that makes London this global city, one of my long standing fascinations has been how a ‘mix’ of cultures over time creates hybrid culture that we see today. ( My architectural master’s thesis looked at post-colonial theory and hybridisation in defining the modern architecture in Rio de Janeiro) Immigration and hybridisation leads to new ideas that emerge from the unknown, this is why is makes me so sad to see many countries, including the UK, tightening their immigration laws and trying to keep people out. It is so easy to see how immigrants have shaped cities over history, it should be encouraged and enabled, and borders should be taken down.)

Is there an inspiring spot in your neighborhood that you would like to tell us about?

Ridley Road, and many of the old residential terraces, especially in spring with the Magnolias and Cherry Blossoms in bloom!

Can you talk about your beautiful house and work space? There is definitely a style going on there!

Sadly it is a rented apartment, my partner and I are hoping to be able to afford to buy something soon. The apartment is a period conversion, where the additions were mainly accommodation within the roofscape and some very large roof lights which bring an incredibly bright and changing light in throughout the day. I prefer period properties, I think it has to do with them being old, in the same essence as I was discussing earlier, they seem to contain layers of history, and therefore have more soul in a sense. If I could chose it would be Georgian not Victorian, as I prefer the proportion of the rooms and windows. Although I would certainly not complain about live in a good modern purpose built block, like the Barbican, or the Isokan apartments in Highgate.

Is the any other city that you could see yourself living in?

Perhaps my home city Cape Town or my partners home city which is Copenhagen. We also often discuss living in Switzerland due to the good architecture practices there; however I doubt I will find any traces of African culture in Switzerland!

Do you have any advice for a young artist who is about to relocate to London?
Make sure you have a benefactor or a money earning job to support you!

Thank you Justine for having us, was great meeting you!

You can see more of Justine’s work and her inspirations on her websites

website: http://cargocollective.com/justinebell / http://justinebell.com

blog: http://elevatordreaming.tumblr.com/

Can you to tell us a bit about yourself ?
I am 25 years old. I’m a capricorn. I love chocolate, soul singers and lots of bass in my music.

How is the area of London in which you live in?

I have lived in London all my life. I originally moved to East London when I began my music degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. And I’ve pretty much lived around here ever since!

Brick Lane is such a fascinating and enchanting area. I am always skipping between my favourite old haunts and new exciting places I’ve come across.

Tell us a bit about your work!

I’m a freelance musician.. I divide my week between teaching music, writing music, and gigging, either as a DJ or as a singer. So much of being a freelance musician involves self-promotion, which can get a little tedious, however, the amazing side of my job is spending time finding new music, creating sets, writing new songs, playing with other artists and DJs, doing radio shows, and performing myself!

Do you think that the area in which you live has influenced your practice?

Definitely! Shoreditch and Brick Lane have always been thriving areas for live gigs and big events, and I have been spoiled for choice with nights out which expose me to a wide variety of artists and genres. As an artist myself, it continues to help encourage and influence me. I also started doing most of my DJing around this area, which helped me to grow and develop my style.

What about London in general?

In general, this city is overwhelmingly beautiful. It is a vibrantly artistic and cultural place, that is why so many people are drawn to study/work/live here, and why so many of us find it difficult to ever leave! My favourite quote is ‘If a man is bored of London, he is bored of life.’ I believe London has so much to offer us – we just have to open our eyes, and want to enjoy it all.

Is there an inspiring spot in your neighborhood that you would like to tell us about?

I love to sit in the sunshine outside my favourite espresso bar on Osbourne Street called Love In A Cup, walk around the markets in Spitalfields and Brick Lane, or walk down to the Thames and alongside the river – especially as it starts to get darker and everything is lit up.

Can you talk about your lovely flat and your workspace?

My flat was a fabulous find, I was very lucky to come across it while I was at music college, and my flatmates have become close friends of mine. I have lived here for the last few years! It is a very bohemian style flat – small and falling apart, with lots of plants and washing everywhere, red stairs, and a roof top we like to have bbq’s on

Is there any other city/town in which you lived or that you would like to live into?

I lived in Amsterdam in the 3rd year of my music degree – it is such an enchanting city, I loved it there. Brick Lane has a similar feeling with its fashion and music diversity. Other cities I admire and would love to live in are Berlin, New York and Sydney.

Do you have any advice for a young artist who is about to relocate to London?

Get to know the city! There is so much to offer and everyone is friendly. Walk around, rent a bike, go to as many free gigs as you can where you will easily meet people and become involved in the scene you want.

Thank you Alice for this lovely day and for the fantastic coffee!

Thank you!!

You can find out more about Alice Grace here:

twitter: @alicegracemusic

facebook: www.facebook.com/alicegraceofficial

soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/alicegrace

website: www.alicegraceproject.com

Can you to tell us a bit about yourself ?
I’m Sandra, I’m female, currently 6 month into my 29th year on this planet.
I’m from Germany. From a tiny Moo-town full of cows, fields and trees.
I was born in a tree house in fact. My mother was dangling by one arm when she gave birth and I flopped out and landed on the back of a hawk who brought me home to his nest.
There I leaned to fly. That’s how I made my way to Great Britain in 2002. Since then I have tried to act like a human.
One day I found some pens and pencils on someone’s table and tried them out. I liked what they did.
I liked that I could capture all the beautiful things that I saw in my own way on paper.

In which area of London do you live in?
I live in East London, Hackney, Clapton to be precise.
I have been here for seven odd years now and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in London.
I love the area, the people, the feeling.
Saying that I’m definitely interested in exploring life in other places in the world.

Tell us a bit about your work!
I have two jobs. Part time manager for the RSPCA and of course the Freelance illustration.
I bet you want to hear about that one

It’s time consuming. It’s detailed. It’s colourful.
A furry mixed media collage full of pattern work.
Traditional draftmanship meets what some consider ‘magical, folky or even edgy’ contemporary image making and story telling.

Natsuki Otani of Illustration Rally wrote this about my illustrations: “The wonderful illustrations that Sandra creates have all the hallmarks of a first class illustrator and a force to be reckoned with. Her animals are not just superbly crafted and observed but the style and aplomb with which she gifts us these images is undeniable. Her work conjures up the deep stirrings of childhood stories and half remembered fairy tales giving an earthy deep-rooted feeling of forests and mystery. Her work screams at as to look with its combination of aching beauty and elegant composition. Her work is strong and subtle and this allows her to introduce humour and light-hearted fun whilst preserving beauty and artistry. A real treat, and an illustrator’s illustrator!”

Do you think that the area in which you live has influenced your practice?
Of course.
If I looked at it in very practical sense then I would say it is a cheap area and living here I didn’t have to strive so much for money.
That gave me a lot of freedom to dream and create and also celebrate. Meet people and enjoy my life.
On another note I also believe that this area has a certain vibe. It’s open, multi cultured, not quite established … things still happen just like that. We had a free shop you needed no money in.
I just feel at home here and I guess that feeling has been a motor in a way to concentrate on what I love and grow.
The city has also enhanced my longing for space and nature extremel which is expressed in my work. I dream and crave green and space and quiet moments and the beautiful creatures that live in the world. I’m not someone that is in love with London. I love what I have here and I’m drawn back to it whenever I try and escape.

Is there an inspiring spot in your neighborhood that you would like to tell us about?
Clapton Pond and it’s weeping willow. I illustrated and wrote a little piece on it quite a while back now.

What about your work space? By the way, we absolutely Love it!
Oh I love it! It’s large. It’s tall. It’s full of things I have collected over the years. I don’t really hang up other peoples work that much.
At the moment there is some but those have all been gifts by other illustrators. I have a lot of animal images around and piles of books and fabrics and and and.
It’s a big shared Victorian house in East London with my boyfriend, my cat Little Crumb and more friends. My studio is a beautiful room with loads of light. I really regard it as a luxury. I’ve only been in here a few months and am over the moon. It’s so quite here and leafy and it’s such a difference to the flat that I lived in previously.
A patterned, colourful mess at times but as long as there is space on the table I’m happy!

If you weren’t living in London, were else would you like to live?
Skandinavia

What advice would you give to a young artist who is about to relocate to London?
Don’t be disillusioned it takes a lot of work and commitment. Be strong. Do it for yourself and no one else. Don’t think about the money. That will never work. London is expensive. If you want and need to draw just because it is that way you are doing something right.
If it’s a performance from your site keep in mind that in time you’ll be exhausted.
Fashion comes and goes. Be yourself, speak your mind, have an opinion and for your own sake be honest to yourself and others! Create what you find aesthetically pleasing! No matter if in London or anywhere else in the world your voice will shine through

You can find out more about Sandra here:

website: www.sandradieckmann.com

blog : sandradieckmann.blogspot.com

shop : etsy.com/shop/SandraDieckmann

twitter: @sandradieckmann