A discussion with decorative artist Tess Newall about the challenges and joys in the shift from creator or maker to business founder. 

Welcome to Up With The Lark And, a podcast for creative entrepreneurs hosted by me Calandre Orton. 
Today, someone we feel we know and a concept we think that we fully grasp. I wonder if perhaps we need to look afresh at both. 

Tess Newall is a decorative artist famed for her murals adorning the most extra ordinary spaces and places. Her work finds life on surfaces in castles and townhouses, hotels and orangeries across the globe. She has worked with a extra ordinary lsit of interior designers and brands and enterprises. It seems the set designer in her continues to shine through. And if that was not enough, she has a wallpaper, fabric and furnishings to her name as well. Vision, grit and charm appear as the cornerstones. Each important and admirable; potent when combined. 

We feel we know her. We have enjoyed seeing her beautiful, whimsical, Brambly Hedge, modern day Charleston work of art of a home. We marvel at her delightful trio of children bedecked in nighties and wellies. We admire, in awe, the commitment and hard work Tess clearly puts in. But there is always so much more to a creative enterprise than meets the eye. I suspect Tess of being an iceberg and I look forward to exploring the depths today. 

And what will we be ruminating on? The ‘build the airoplane as you fly the airoplane’ life that is that of the maker or artist turned entrepreneur. So many talented makers and artists across fabric, paint, wood, metal, mosaic, ceramics then find themselves running businesses. 

And with it, an arduous and rewarding adventure with its own specific set of challenges. Firstly, do you know that you suit the life of a maker or artist? When can you tell that there is enough demand to start a business? What is the key to building a successful brand alongside that business? How can you set the culture as you build a team? And, most importantly, how do you protect, nurture and evolve as your creative self?

So welcome to Up With The Lark And Tess Newall. I wonder if we might find ourselves eyeing up which surface in our home requires a mural and reassured by Tess’ honesty and insights. 

Tess Newall