Em Claire Creative – developing Art as a Story

How would you describe your business/creative practice ?   

I am developing an emerging mixed-media art, poetry and creative wellbeing practice based in Derby. Through Em Claire Creative, I am building Art as a Story: an accessible creative practice that uses visual art as a starting point for creative writing, storytelling, reflective writing and confidence-building.  

My work brings together acrylic marker, collage, felt, oil pastel, charcoal, typography and poetry. The wider aim is to create welcoming creative spaces for adults, especially people who may feel anxious, neurodivergent, chronically ill, disabled, new to creativity, or disconnected from their own confidence.  

At this stage, I am developing the practice rather than presenting it as a fully launched business. The next step is to build a professional portfolio, test workshop ideas, formalise the offer and grow it into a sustainable creative wellbeing business. 

 

Can you tell us the story behind why you started your business/practice and your journey so far. 

I have worked in education for around 15 years, mainly as an English and Media teacher, and I am also a qualified SENCO. My professional background has always centred on language, storytelling, creativity, confidence and access. My own creative practice became more urgent while recovering from serious health difficulties and living with chronic illness. Art classes, poetry and mixed-media work gave me a way to process experience, rebuild confidence and reconnect with identity beyond work and illness. That journey is now shaping Em Claire Creative and Art as a Story. I want to combine my experience as a teacher, writer and emerging artist to create accessible workshops where people can use image, colour, memory and words to tell their own stories in a way that feels safe, creative and meaningful. 

 

Did you study at University? If so, where did you graduate from and what course did you study?   

I have an English degree, a Master’s in Education and I am a qualified SENCO. I also completed teacher training through the University of Derby. My academic and professional training has given me a strong foundation in literature, language, inclusive education, accessibility, curriculum design and supporting learners with a wide range of needs. 

 

If Derby student/Grad where there any University services that you found particularly useful when starting your business/practice?  E.g. Enterprise Service, Pitch Perfect, Careers Service, work experience/placements, etc.   

I am at an early stage of building the practice, so the most useful support has been enterprise guidance, creative business support and opportunities that help me understand how to move from an idea into a viable creative practice. The University of Derby’s enterprise support, Banks Mill membership and the Female Founder Fundamentals course are particularly useful because they offer structure, advice, networks and confidence at the point where I am beginning to shape the business properly. 

 

 

How has the University of Derby supported you in your business/ creative practice so far?    

The University of Derby has supported me by helping me access a creative and enterprise-focused environment through Banks Mill. This has given me a practical next step: a professional community, a place to develop the work, and a clearer route into creative business development. The support has also helped me take the practice seriously as something that can grow beyond a personal creative outlet into a community-focused creative wellbeing offer. 

 

What UoD networks did you find useful during your studies and post-graduation, if any?   

The most useful networks so far are Banks Mill, University of Derby enterprise support and the Female Founder Fundamentals network. I am also beginning to connect with Derby’s wider creative and community arts scene, including conversations around accessible workshops, creative wellbeing and local partnership work. These networks are valuable because I am building confidence, learning the practical side of creative enterprise and meeting people who understand both creativity and community impact. 

 

What do you hope that being part of the Banks Mill community will do for your creative business/practice? Is there one thing in particular that you’re looking forward to? 

I hope Banks Mill will help me move from early-stage ideas into a more professional, visible and sustainable creative practice. I am looking forward to being around other artists, makers and creative businesses, receiving feedback, learning from people further along in their journey and becoming part of Derby’s creative community. The main thing I am looking forward to is the sense of community and accountability: being in a space where creativity is taken seriously, where I can develop my portfolio, test workshop ideas and build the confidence to share the work publicly. 

 

Do you have any other work experience/support/or training that’s relevant to what you’re doing now? 

My background in teaching is highly relevant to what I am developing now. I have around 15 years’ experience teaching English, Media Studies and creative writing, designing resources, leading discussion, supporting confidence and adapting learning for different needs. As a qualified SENCO, I have specialist knowledge of accessibility, neurodivergence, anxiety, inclusive practice and scaffolding. This is central to the way I want to design creative workshops: calm, structured, welcoming and accessible. I also have experience in media, storytelling, curriculum design, creative writing, spoken word, visual communication and lived-experience speaking around chronic illness and patient voice. 

 

 

What are you working on at the moment?   

I am currently developing three connected strands of work:  

1. A mixed-media art portfolio exploring memory, identity, chronic illness, nostalgia, humour, local life and everyday emotional experience. 
2. A poetry collection called Ordinary, Somehow, which focuses on everyday life, local observations, humour, community, memoryand the ordinary details that become meaningful. 
3. Art as a Story, a workshop model that uses visual art prompts, collage, colour, image and creative writing to support reflection, confidenceand self-expression. 

I am also building a website and shaping the public identity of Em Claire Creative. 

 

Tell us about your work/techniques/how long a piece takes to complete etc   

My work is mixed-media and process-led. I use acrylic paint pens, acrylic paint, collage, felt, oil pastel, charcoal, sketchbook work, handwritten text and digital design. I am interested in combining image and language, so a piece might begin with a colour, an ordinary memory, a line from a poem, a feeling in the body, or a small local observation. Some smaller pieces can be completed in one sitting, especially prompt-led or sketchbook work. More layered canvas pieces may take several sessions as I build colour, shape, texture and meaning. The workshop side of the practice is designed around 90–120 minute sessions, with a balance of visual making, discussion, reflection and creative writing. 

 

 What are your plans for your creative business/practice for the next 12 months? 

Over the next 12 months, I plan to formalise Em Claire Creative and continue developing Art as a Story into a clear, sustainable creative wellbeing offer. My priorities are to:  

– build and launch a simple website and professional portfolio 
– develop a small body of mixed-media artwork and writing 
– pilot accessible creative writing and art workshops for adults 
– grow local partnerships with community arts and wellbeing organisations 
– continue business and enterprise training through Derby support networks 
– develop specialist tutoring and creative writing support for neurodivergent learners 
– apply for suitable small grants or development funding 
– take part in open studios, local events and opportunities through Banks Mill 

The aim is to move carefully from early development into a realistic, community-focused creative practice.   

 

Is there anything else you’d would like to share?   

I would describe this as a developing creative practice rather than an already established business. I am at the stage of building the foundations: portfolio, website, networks, training, workshop model and professional identity. The heart of the work is simple: helping people use art and words to tell stories, process experience, notice ordinary life and rebuild creative confidence. I am happy to provide accompanying images, including artwork, sketchbook/process images and a photograph of me working in the studio when available.