As much as I enjoyed my time at Eye to Pencil, it was sad to see the studio close at the end of 2024. Hence, “New year, new me” took on multiple meanings for me in the beginning of 2025.

New Year, New Me, New Placements !

From December to January, I’ve been trial-shifting at a contemporary art gallery, assisting with workshop management. This was an exciting opportunity, especially as I was able to research and connect with artists and collectives in London, with the hope of curating the workshop schedule each month.

However, during this time, multiple opportunities came my way. I had to decide which ones I felt passionate about and wanted to pursue. In addition to the contemporary gallery, I was offered a position at an artist’s studio, where I could contribute skills such as social media management, workshop and exhibition curation, and overall administrative tasks. I had also applied for an opportunity to work as an intern at an auction house and was in the process of speaking with a street artist to potentially work as a creative gallery store manager at his art shop in Brick Lane.

Although it would have been great to experience all the opportunities at once, I had a limited amount of time to offer and needed to establish a boundary for a manageable work-life balance. My priorities lay in getting paid and gaining unique work experiences, which led me to take on two opportunities: interning at Olympia Auctions and working as a creative gallery store manager at the Brick Lane Brick Shop.

During the first term of DPS, I realised that I could dedicate some time to work on my own practice and self development. So, starting in January, I began visiting the Royal Drawing School every Monday to work on etching prints and attending beginner French classes every Tuesday. Even though my schedule became much more hectic, committing to regular learning sessions has given me the motivation to still create and learn while working.

I realise that the DPS year is not far from coming to an end. So far, the experiences I’ve had working in the industry have been very helpful for both my CV and my curiosity about the art world. It has allowed me to think beyond jobs and professions and focus on the elements of the art world that drive me to continue being here. I also want to mention how the process of the DPS year itself—receiving valuable feedback and guidance from the tutors—has been incredibly helpful in the way I approach my own accomplishments, both in professional work and personal practices. Compared to how I entered this year unsure about the future and abilities I hold, I am now confident that I will come out of it with self-reliance and certainty.

Lots more to learn!

– S

Shortly after completing my second year studying BA Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts, I decided to pursue the Diploma in Professional Studies for the upcoming year.

My career interests are rooted in fine art, specifically in activities surrounding exhibitions, shows, workshops, and events. I believe this focus stems from my desire to engage with people through art and to bring communities together in times when isolation has become common. I am especially passionate about highlighting the importance of creating creative spaces for young people, such as the Young Artists’ Show at the RA. My interest in curating deepened after I created an opportunity to speak with the curator who organised that show. The conversation provided insight into the varied responsibilities of a curator role—from communicating with artists to physically moving their works, handling administrative tasks, and assisting in running programmes for young artists.

I am also keen to explore opportunities surrounding fashion—a consistent interest I have outside of my art practice. What fascinates me is the variety of interactions that surround fashion—both physical and digital. Either way, there is a strong community that surrounds fashion, which I want to further observe through this exploration. Even if this industry isn’t my preferred career path, I believe that certain engagements will be helpful in building the skills I need for the future.

There is no doubt that the experiences I’ll gain through the DPS year will be beneficial for future career development and will also prepare me for my final year at university. With that being said, I aim to use this blog as a tool to document the work I’ve done in my placement. By the end of this year, I hope that the documentation becomes evidence of progress!

– S