A business consultancy for those in the arts and creative industries.

SERVICES

It starts with your next idea, your talent and your grit. But what next? It is my belief that as a creative entrepreneur, founder or leader, having clarity of vision and of purpose will lead to clarity of action.

I work with creative entrepreneurs to carve out creative and commercial strategies across all areas of the business, brand or enterprise. Working on a project basis, I take a bespoke approach to each client. A self proclaimed optimist, every interaction with me offers ideas, energy and insight.

  • Working with clients to develop a comprehensive guide and action plan for the next chapter of the business. This looks at vision, values, what’s for sale, the market place, customers, sales strategy, finances and operations.

  • Advising on a specific topic, opportunity or challenge. I work with clients on a range of topics across the creative and the commercial. This includes, but is not limited to, sales strategy, finances, building a team, leadership, competitor analysis, business plan reviews.

  • Many clients opt for a ‘little and often’ approach, a thought partner. This advice is focused momentum and accountability. We work with the needs of the business or practice to execute the plan or vision for the future. Many clients work quarterly or monthly.

  • I take on a variety of speaking opportunities whether live interviews, panel host or as part of a panel. I also take writing commissions relating to the concept and practicalities of being a creative entrepreneur.

SELECTED CLIENTS

Curation

Design

Fashion & Jewellery

Fine Art

Fine Craft

Interiors & Gardens

Palefire

Plum & Ashby

Rachel Entwistle

Scribble & Daub

Sophie Breitmeyer

Straw London

Studio Faeger

Studio George

Studio Peake

Tabi Jackson Gee

Twig Hutchinson

Ben Prescott Design

Camilla Wordie

Emilie Pugh

Emily Ponsonby

Foster & Gane

Hum London

If Only If

Kitten Grayson

Jess Wheeler

Life Of Ease

Lottie Delamain

Nancy Nicholson

PODCAST

UP WITH THE LARK AND

Studio Faeger

Your Creative Identity

A conversation with Victoria Barker, founder of Studio Faeger, on finding and nurturing your creative identity.


In this episode I am delighted to say that we are tackling one of my favourite topics – creative identity – with one of my favourite creatives, Victoria Barker founder of Studio Faeger. Studio Faeger has a tangibility to it so often forgotten in the digital age. Her designs lift the soul, are embracing and have just enough humour and lightness in them that your day is better for it. It is a reminder of what interior design is for – it’s not for static crafted images in magazines or videos on social media. It is about the right table to sit and converse at with your best friend, a kitchen that nourishes you, a sofa to sink into with your toddler or your teen, it’s the beauty of living life well. Victoria has swiftly cemented her look and feel alongside what it is to work with her. Both are magical.

We are very lucky to have the chance to explore how you discover, nurture and develop your creative identity. We will consider what actions, people and places augment and affirm that identity. And we will debate how to tackle the challenges, dilutions and distractions that come your way. Victoria has carved out a career, a portfolio of work, a swathe of delighted clients by ever so gently, with ever so much determination focus and grit, expressed her own creative identity. She seems to be able to avoid those pitfalls of comparison, distraction and doubt. Those who have this gift are flames to the rest of us moths and so I very much hope that you will enjoy Up With The Lark and Studio Feager on Creative Identity.

ABOUT

Up With The Lark

Up With The Lark was launched in 2015 by Calandre Orton. It is a business consultancy for those in the arts and creative industries. Up With The Lark clients want to be encouraged and challenged to start, refine, grow or elevate their creative businesses or careers. Calandre works with founders, entrepreneurs and brands to propel creative talent forwards, develop profitable business models and celebrate the successful marriage of creativity and commerce.

It is Calandre’s belief that the key to running a successful creative business is clarity. Whether in her capacity as a consultant focused on strategy or a mentor working on mindset, Calandre’s goal is always clarity of vision, purpose and action.

Calandre has always worked where the creative meets the commercial - as an art and media lawyer, a studio manager, a commercial director and a business consultant. And so, as a consultant, Calandre provides invested but objective observations, pithy insights and expert advice. A self proclaimed optimist, every interaction with Calandre offers ideas, energy and insight. Up With The Lark is not about a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Instead the focus is on each client’s specific talents and industry, aspirations and version of success.