Mentoring for Creatives

Whether you have an application you need someone to cast their eye over or you need a conversation about your direction, you can request an hour-long 1-to-1 session with anyone from our pool of experienced mentors. Each of mentoring session includes reading before the meeting and notes after the meeting.

If you are a CKA member on a 6-month or annual plan, the first session in the year with any of the mentors is included in your membership.

Rates for additional sessions, monthly members and non-members are in each mentor’s profile.

Lucy Beckley

Lucy Beckley is a published writer, poet and creative writing facilitator based in Cornwall. She has an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University, an MA in European Cultures from Birkbeck University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Creative Writing from Cambridge University.

Her work has been shortlisted for multiple awards and she regularly runs bespoke workshops for adults, children and organisations. Lucy loves to help inspire others to find the joy and magic in writing and support them to reach their creative potential.

Alongside her creative practice, she has worked in a variety of marketing and sales, communications and project management roles for corporate, consumer, not-for-profit and start-up organisations. She prides herself on her creativity, ability to think strategically and sound organisational skills.

Above all, she is passionate about opening up participation and removing barriers to access creative writing and the arts.

  • Idea development and generation
  • Marketing and communications support
  • Project management and planning
  • Facilitation skills development
  • Creative journaling and reflection

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Lucy. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Lucy about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Lucy! Her rate is £65/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her email which is linked below.

Sarah Campbell

Sarah Campbell is the Associate Director for Arts and Culture at the University of Exeter. She joined from the Victoria and Albert Museum, having worked extensively in museum and gallery education, developing public engagement programmes and projects for a broad range of audiences.

Sarah previously worked at the National Galleries of Scotland, The New Art Gallery Walsall, and Kettle’s Yard University of Cambridge. In 2016, Sarah was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship to research the creative processes of U.S. art museum professionals, and innovations in public programming.

  • Collaborations between artists and academics
  • Structuring creative learning programmes and projects
  • Working with a broad range of stakeholders
  • Strategic planning for/with small teams

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Sarah. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Sarah about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

Sarah does not offer other mentoring opportunities currently.

Katie Etheridge

Katie Etheridge is an artist, performer and community engagement practitioner with 25 years experience connecting people and places through playful, inventive and interactive performances and artworks.

With her company Small Acts, Katie has created and produced a diverse range of socially engaged projects over the last 13 years, working with communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Small Acts specialise in connecting people face-to-face to create participatory live art that bring individuals and communities together through small acts that make a big difference.

As a mentor, educator and workshop facilitator Katie has extensive experience of supporting both emerging and established practitioners through professional development initiatives such as Live Art Development Agency’s DIY programme and as a lecturer at Dartington College of Arts and Falmouth University.

“I enjoy working with artists at all stages of their careers. My approach is warm, challenging, positive and generative.”

  • Ideas and project development
  • Working with people as part of your practice
  • Thinking about audiences and how they engage with your work
  • Socially engaged and relational arts projects
  • Participatory performance

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Katie. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Katie about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Katie! Her rate is £60/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her email which is linked below.

Matt Hocking

Matt Hocking works at the intersection of profit, purpose and possibility, first as an award-winning creative director, now as a fractional Chief Evolution Officer helping boardrooms and business leaders have critical conversations and turn stagnation and impasse into strategy and acceleration.

A year-one member of the B Corp UK movement, Matt balances commercial urgency with a “leave no-trace” mindset, guiding organisations and individuals to overcome the conundrum of growing without compromising their soul or the soil.

Known as a super-connector, he draws on an extraordinary network that spans investors, product developers, spiritual teachers, renegade creatives and some of the most progressive CEOs in global business.

  • Sustainable Design
  • Plant-Centred Design
  • Lean Start Up / Business Advice
  • B Creative – B Corp
  • Showing Your Work
  • Portfolio Reviews
  • Sounding Board x Nature’s Board
  • Igniting and Manifesting
  • Pathfinding
  • Mentoring
  • Advisory / Board / NED

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Matt. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Matt about. This is just so we can make sure he will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Matt! His rate is £100/session and you can get in touch with him directly via his email which is linked below.

Rachael Jones

Rachael Jones is an artist-filmmaker and researcher whose films are made up of multiple playful assemblages that rely on collaboration. Working across digital and analogue formats, she uses found materials and handmade sustainable processes where possible. She works by commission and has over 10 years’ experience teaching in higher education, training and supporting artist moving image work.

Rachael’s recent work aims at demystifying the filmmaking process using experimental filmmaking and animation techniques to creatively connect participants to landscape as place. In 2023 she completed an AHRC-funded practice-based PhD at UAL through Falmouth University, which explored emergent mixed methods that call attention to the value of participation and process.
I have a versatile practice, working between commercial filmmaking and artist moving image. I also incorporate other media and techniques into my practice such as drawing and ceramics.

  • Project development;
  • Review and reflection of overall practice;
  • Specific video/filmmaking skills: filming, editing and exhibition or screening;
  • Writing about your practice;
  • Artistic research;
  • 2D animation.

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Rachael. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Rachael about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Rachael! Her rate is £75/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her website which is linked below.

Tanya Krzywinska

Tanya Krzywinska is a Professor Emeritus at Falmouth University. An academic, researcher and artist, she has had over 40 years’ experience of teaching film, aesthetics and digital games, designing new HE courses, supervising PhD students, and managing large research and development projects. She is a distinguished member of HEVGA and DIGRA.

With an MFA from St Martins, Tanya’s art practice brings together painting with digital modelling and VFX, in the form of augmented overlays. Storytelling, world-building and character development provide the building blocks of her work. A founding member of the Blended Realities research group at Falmouth, she has led practice-based research projects, creating VR, AR and games content for heritage providers in Cornwall as well as developing a co-designed game tackling issues related to young people’s mental health with Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry.  She is a member of the Newlyn Society of Artists.

  • Project development/management
  • Critical thinking and reflection
  • 3D animation
  • Co-design
  • Augmented Reality
  • Painting Practice Skills
  • Personal Development
  • Digital Cultures

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Tanya. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Tanya about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Tanya! Her rate is £60/session and you can get in touch with her directly via the links below.

Katie Lusby

Katie is a dance and theatre artist based in Falmouth with over 15 years’ experience as a performer, educator, facilitator, and creative collaborator. She has worked with internationally acclaimed companies such as Gecko, Punchdrunk, and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, as well as teaching in various community, educational, and professional settings worldwide.

Katie is passionate about nurturing the next generation of artists and will soon be launching an artist development initiative to support Cornwall’s early career dance and theatre makers. She believes deeply in the transformative power of dance, and that everyone can do it. In 2023, Katie founded Nos Danza Presents as a vehicle to get more people dancing. Through accessible classes and workshops, she empowers individuals to explore and embrace their unique movement, creativity, and expression.

  • Creative Practice: support and guidance for dancers, actors, and theatre-makers looking to develop performance skills, devising techniques, and choreographic processes;
  • Professional Practice: assistance for performers, choreographers, and theatre-makers with CVs, showreels, online presence, funding applications, networking, auditions, and understanding industry standards;
  • Teaching Practice: guidance for developing teaching or facilitation skills and methodologies in community, professional, and educational settings (from primary to higher education) in dance, movement, and physical theatre – whether technical, creative, or both;
  • Creative Projects: mentoring and advising for interdisciplinary projects, creative collaborations, and project development – from initial conception through to delivery;
  • Personal Development: encouragement for personal growth and confidence in your creative career, with support in setting goals, reflecting on progress, celebrating achievements, and prioritising self-care and wellbeing.

To book your first free session with Katie as a CKA 6-month / annual member, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk

For additional sessions, monthly members and non-members, Katie’s rate is £50/session. You can get in touch with her directly on her website to book your session.

Rebecca Mordan

After graduating Sheffield University and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Rebecca worked as an actor, director, writer and producer and created award-winning feminist production hub Scary Little Girls.

In 2018 she founded the Greenham Women Everywhere project which has interviewed over 200 Greenham Women and helped to put the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp back into the cultural conversation.

In 2021 she was a member of the BBC Writers Room, wrote for the BBC’s Archive on Four, Radio 4’s The UK Project and her first book was published, Out of the Darkness: Greenham Voices.

She is currently under option with World Productions developing an original idea with writer Sarah Rutherford for a recurring feminist legal drama and is Story Consultant for Rachel Tunnard and BBC Films.

Rebecca is a regular ‘rent-a-feminist’ talking head for TV and Radio, including You and Yours, 5 Live, Women’s Hour, and Sky News.

Rebecca is also a compère in circus and cabaret and is a regular at the Glastonbury Festival Big Top, the Edinburgh Fringe and the Brighton Fringe.  She has used these and other performative skills to work with CAAT, CND, Feminism in London, MADD Fest, Object, Stand Up for Women, Not Buying It and London’s Reclaim The Night march.

  • Sounding board for creative visions
  • Ideas development
  • Approaching the rehearsal room as a Director
  • Producing your own work
  • How to MC/Compere
  • Dramaturgy, script editing or story consultancy
  • Best practice for inclusion and reducing barriers to participation
  • Fundraising and approach to funds, forms and funders
  • Creating multi-disciplinary projects/live or recorded art
  • Public speaking
  • Communicating with the media
  • Career advise, goals setting and reflection
  • Industry navigation
  • Insights into the creative landscape

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Rebecca. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Rebecca about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Rebecca! Her rate is £50/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her website which is linked below.

Simon Persighetti

Simon Persighetti is an artist, performance maker and writer whose work with Small Acts explores the social landscape and interrelationships between people and places.

Simon has decades of experience in devising and writing participatory and site-specific performances and leading workshops in academic, community and professional settings. He mentored many artists through his role as a senior lecturer at Dartington College of Arts and later, Falmouth University.

Simon is co-director of Small Acts with Katie Etheridge. Since 2011 they have developed a unique collaborative practice that explores the intersection between people, place and performance.

Simon is also a core member of Wrights & Sites, a group of artists who produced international site-specific performances, walking projects, publications, and other art works between 1997 and 2018.

He has written playscripts for radio, stage and site-specific productions as well as leading creative urban exploration projects in Zambia, New York, Chicago and many European cities.

  • Approaches to making, devising or directing site-specific performance
  • Exploring towns and cities and devising performance walks
  • Thinking about context as a source and place for your arts practice
  • Reflection and conversation on your own art work or works of art
  • Imagining and writing your personal artistic manifesto

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Simon. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Simon about. This is just so we can make sure he will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Simon! His rate is £60/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her email which is linked below.

Sara Pugh

With a background in design and branding, Sara started her own marketing agency, Eight Wire in 2004. She has gone on to start several businesses as well as working as an adviser and NED for many organisations.

As a senior lecturer at Falmouth University, Sara teaches Business and Entrepreneurship. She is also a qualified team coach, and regularly works as mentor and trainer, working with teams and individuals on their comms, leadership and marketing.

  • Marketing and branding
  • Leadership
  • Personal development
  • Business and Governance

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Sara. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Sara about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Sara! Her rate is £80/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her email which is linked below.

Laura Wasley

Laura is CEO of MAKE Southwest (in Bovey Tracey, Devon) and has been working in the creative industries for over 16 years within higher education & craft sector.

As the CEO of MAKE Southwest, Laura Wasley is an inspiring leader with a passion for supporting artists and makers. Located in Bovey Tracey, Devon, MAKE Southwest has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1955 as the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.

Laura’s extensive experience in the arts and her collaborative leadership style make her an exceptional mentor for artists and makers. She is dedicated to nurturing talent, providing guidance on both the creative and business aspects of an artistic career. By overseeing a diverse range of exhibitions, educational projects, and workshops, Laura ensures that artists have opportunities to showcase their work, develop their skills, and connect with wider audiences.

Her deep understanding of the challenges faced by artists, combined with her strategic approach to supporting creative growth, enables her to offer valuable insights and practical advice. Whether helping emerging artists navigate the early stages of their careers or supporting established makers in expanding their reach, Laura’s commitment to fostering talent makes her a trusted and inspiring mentor. Her emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and community engagement empowers artists and makers to achieve their full potential and thrive in their creative pursuits.

  • Career Guidance: Tips and support to help artists at every stage of their journey.
  • Skill Development: Opportunities to hone artistic techniques and explore new ideas.
  • Business Know-How: Practical advice on marketing, sales, and building a creative business.
  • Community Connections: Encouraging collaboration and networking.
  • Personal Mentorship: Tailored support to help artists achieve their goals.

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Laura. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Laura about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

Laura does not offer other mentoring opportunities currently.

Fiona Wotton

Fiona is a cultural leader with over two decades of senior executive experience in charities, universities and national organisations.

Fiona is the former CEO of the Creative Kernow Group, and completed a Clore Fellowship between 2018 and 2019. Her research interests are in complex systems.

  • Strategy – organisational and personal
  • Business planning
  • Budget design
  • People and culture
  • Building professional networks
  • Fundraising including making the ask
  • Bid development

If you are a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan, you can book one free session with Fiona. To book, please email us at associates@creativekernow.org.uk and provide some brief information about what you are hoping to talk to Fiona about. This is just so we can make sure she will be able to help.

If you are:

  • a CKA member on a monthly plan
  • a CKA member on a 6-monthly or annual plan who has already had a free mentoring session this year and is looking to book more mentoring sessions
  • not a CKA member

then you can still book a session with Fiona! Her rate is £75/session and you can get in touch with her directly via her email which is linked below.

Haven’t Found the Right Fit for You?

We understand that the needs of artists and creatives are diverse, so as part of the ongoing development of our programme, we will be adding more mentors to our pool, as well as additional recommended mentors.

If you work as a mentor and are interested in offering free mentoring to our members, please do get in touch!