It’s important to build up a good network of fellow artists and organisations that may have opportunities for you as a creative person. Stay up to date with what’s going on in your local area by signing up to email/newsletters and following artists on social media.

One of my fellow students is heavily involved in the Cheddar Arts Quarter and through her, we get news of exhibitions and workshops and other local opportunities to mix and share work locally. I am also involved with the People’s Rebulic of Stokes Croft in Bristol, in a financial administration capacity (my other career). Again they hold Art Fairs twice a year and an Art Exhibition once a year, this is also an opportunity to mix with other creatives and share my work locally. They also hold workshops as part of the Peoples Art Club. Local, but slightly further afield than where I live.

The beauty of these organisations is that you mix with creatives across different genres ie, street art, printing, ceramicists, jewellery makers, photographers etc. It a good way to share ideas and possibly hear of some collaboration opportunities.

In Weston-Super-Mare there is a small business called Print Works Weston and they hold a monthly print club and hire out their facilities and by getting involved in this way, I can meet up with fellow printers and be involved with any local exhibitions or print artist collaborations as they have contacts with the local Galleries and Somerset and North Somerset Art Weeks.

Attending workshops by other artists is also a good way of meeting people and finding out what is going on in the are. I attended a one day animal portrait workshop at The Sculpture School in Devon earlier this year.

I am also a friend member of the Society of Equestrian Artists, when the degree is finished I can look at joining their workshops and build up my skills as an equestrian artist. They also hold an annual exhibition which you can submit work to, a great way to be acknowledged in the field of equestrian art and build up contacts.

And then there is the social media following and building up your own audience by posting regularly and also by following artists and galleries online.

Instagram as @helen_louise_art

Facebook as Helen Louise Art

I follow a lot of artists and a few galleries, but I need to engage more with their content to start harbouring connections on social media and post more on my own accounts.