This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Musician Cyrano-Cyrano or James is an Edinburgh-based musician who has been making music for over a decade but only in 2021 did he start releasing tracks under his project 'Cyrano'. Described as music for the late night over-thinkers, his tracks have a percussive focus with electronic production and a personal, melancholy lyricism -During our chat, we get into how James came to music, and how he carefully crafted its releases and presentation. We talk about the intricacies of navigating the music scene as a small artist and his desire to do things differently. If you are a musician or a creative and want to learn a bit more about releasing music and how to navigate the maze of sharing your own creative endeavours, listen in, lots of value here!Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation.-Thank you so much to James for coming on the podcast.-You can find James on Instagram @cyranomusic and their websiteAnd you can hear the music on SpotifyFind all images discussed @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests!www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Scottish Photographer Rosie Biggar-Rosie Biggar, or rosie.sco as she is known to much of the industry thanks to her social media presence is a Glasgow-based photographer who works within the music scene. An introduction to photography via her mum's 35mm point-and-shoot film camera led her to capture much of the music scene she was immersed in on film. A lifelong fan of music and having found a sense of belonging within the scene, Rosie wanted to find a way to be part of it without being on stage...this led to photographing the music instead. From this beginning, she went on to win the Scottish Young Portrait Photographer Award in 2022 and alongside this work with a huge variety of both local and touring bands in Glasgow.  -During our chat, we touch on Rosie's drive to take photos and what she thinks makes a great photo. We talk about her favourite bands to shoot and how growing her confidence made her a better photographer. Other topics we dive into are the practicalities of shooting film and working as a photographer, along with finding inspiration in admiring the work of others, along with the passion she has for Scottish talent.  Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation.-Thank you so much to Rosie for coming on the podcast.-You can find Rosie on [email protected] all images discussed @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests!www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the PodcastSupport the show

This end-of-year special sees arts writer, critic, comic and broadcaster Verity Babbs join Leo to go over their last 12 months, discussing the highs, lows and lessons learnt from their experiences and some thoughts on the biggest stories in the art world. From putting on shows at Edinburgh's fringe to throwing cake at masterpieces, they cover a wild range of topics in this end-of-year review. A huge thank you to everyone who listens and supports the podcast, it is a joy to create and we are excited to bring you lots of new guests in 2023You can find more from Verity on her website https://www.veritybabbs.com/aboutand her InstagramJoin us on Instagram  @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast and helps me produce more episodes and host exciting guests!www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the showSupport the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Artist Faye Woods.Faye Woods is a Scottish artist, she is currently working out of a tiny home studio in West Yorkshire. She graduated from Greys school of art with a BA in painting. Her current work acts as a love letter to the much-loved establishment of the British pub. To Woods, the pub represents a state of emotional freedom where the act of dancing, singing and drunken debauchery transcends time itself. The pub is a representation of the inner psyche, the room within rooms that is teetering on the edge of disaster and joy.‘Recently my work has been very inspired by the concept of ‘the perfect pub’. To me, the whole rigmarole accompanying a night at the pub acts as the perfect metaphysical realm for my joyous albeit grotesque figures to exist. In a less obnoxious way, it’s a portal to channel all of my reprehensible behaviours and social faux pas’ into a landscape where spitting in someone's drink or passing out in a bush is encouraged. In my practice, I try to bring attention to the surreal aspects of life and the way the oddness of experience manifests within individuals and how that manifestation affects me. In my vulnerability, I crave strange moments of intimacy. I imagine drinking straight from the tap of all emotion, drinking so much of it, I take on too much and I’m sick and everything I spew out ends up in my work… But more importantly, who the hell doesn’t love a good pint?’ During our chat, we get into how Faye came to Art, her processes of inventing worlds and channelling emotions along with some of the events and encounters that led her to tell the stories she does. At the heart of her work is communication, and it is that need to tell stories via a physical medium that provokes a great deal of her work. Mixed in with the ridiculous scenes and bright colours are some real moments of honest, raw emotion and foot-stomping hilarity, you just need to look.  Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation.-Thank you so much to Faye for coming on the podcast.-You can find Faye  on [email protected] and their websiteFind all images discussed @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests!www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the showSupport the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Musician and Producer James Minas.-James is a Greek/Welsh Musician and Producer, who has made waves with his honest, emotional and energetic songs and performances, bouncing between hip hop, punk and rock, his music is hard to fit into a genre. Moving from Greece to Wales at a young age and with parents in the Circus, it wasn't a 'traditional' start for James. Growing up in the remote Welsh Valley's didn't necessarily scratch the creative itch he always had. At first producing instrumental music and DJ'ing before finding his feet as a writer and producer, James channels his experiences, both ups and downs into his music. Both autobiography and social commentary, his music finds a place that is inherently macho and aggressive but breaks it down to show the inner workings of why it came to be.-During our chat, we get into how James found music, (thank you Spice Girls), how it became such an outlet for him and the impact it has had on his personal and professional life. Addiction, loss and mental health all play a part in shaping the music he produces and his outlook on life. Alongside his own musical output, he works to produce tracks for number of other welsh talents.Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation.-Thank you so much to James for coming on the podcast.-You can find James on Instagram@minassound And you can hear the music on SpotifyFind all images discussed @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests!www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the showSupport the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Artist and Musician Michael Kay Terence, perhaps better known for his music project, Swiss Portrait.-Michael is a Scottish artist, who turned to making music in 2020 as a way to channel his creative energy. Fast forward to 2022 and he is selling out venues and playing stages all over the country with a full band. His 'dream pop' sound has made waves in the USA and at home, building a following that love the DIY approach the artist has. -During our chat, we get into how Michael came to music, and how he has managed with it developing the way it has. We talk about the importance of sustainability in music and art, along with how he has found it working with distributors and labels opposed to self releasing. If you are a musician or a creative and want to learn a bit more about making music and how to navigate the maze of sharing your own creative endeavours, listen in, lots of value here!Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation.-Thank you so much to Michael for coming on the podcast.-You can find Swiss Portraits on [email protected] and their websiteAnd you can hear the music on SpotifyFind all images discussed @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests!www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary Artist Joe Grieve and the Curator of his recent show, Jack Trodd-Joe Grieve is a London based contemporary artist who's work plays with themes of place, nature, Romanticism, religion and landscape. He recently graduated from City and Guilds and has just finished a solo show with Brushes with Greatness. Jack Trodd is a London based curator, and the gallerist behind Brushes with Greatness.-During our chat, we cover Joe's entry into the artworld and the processes that help him create the work he does. From here to dive into the relationship between artist and dealer, along with debating questions such as 'can you make great art without suffering?', and 'do you have to believe in art to like it?'.Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation.-Thank you so much to Joe and Jack for coming on the podcast.-You can find Jack and Brushes with Greatness on Instagram@brushes_with_greatness and their websiteAnd find Joe on Instagram at @joebennellgrieveFind all images discussed @CuratingconversationIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversationThank you so much.LeoSupport the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Curator and founder of Brushes with Greatness, Jack Trodd-Jack Trodd is a London based curator, and gallerist. A lifelong lover of art and passionate creative, Jack came from a marketing background to realise his intense passion for supporting artists, giving birth to Brushes with Greatness. He works with a variety of emerging talents to produce exciting exhibitions and connect artists with collectors around the globe. -Late in 2021 Jack curated and produced a show entitled, 'Into the Cosmere', an 18 artist group show which celebrated fantastical, alien landscapes, and the world builders who create them. As a first outing, it was a triumph, and he has gone on to develop this practice to produce another exhibition which is currently on, as of January 2022 at Tap and Bottle in London Bridge. Acting as an art world conduit, Jack brings a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm to all the projects he embarks on.-During our chat, we discussed Jack's entry into art, his initial fascination with colour and lifelong adoration of the fantastical. We delve into the biggest problems we often see artists struggling with and how best to navigate that.  Also mentioned in this episode are some tales from his thespian cum heavy metal fan days and we take a look at the pieces in his collection that stand out to him.-Thank you so much to Jack for coming on the podcast.-You can find Jack and Brushes with Greatness on Instagram@brushes_with_greatness and their website Find all images discussed @Curatingconversationand The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_galleryIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests!Thank you so much.https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with painter and founder of the Clovermill Artist Residency, Jennifer Smith-Jennifer Smith is an Irish visual artist based in The Netherlands. She received a BA of Fine Art, Painting in 2005 from Limerick School of Art & Design. She creates abstract expressionist nude figurative paintings. Or so her bio would have you believe, she does much more than this.  Her work touches on themes varying from the female gaze, sexuality, image, femininity and mythology, although her practice is constantly evolving. -Alongside her artistic practice, she is the founder of The Clovermill Artist Residency, which provides onsite accommodation, studio, gallery and exhibition space, located on the grounds of an old water windmill in The Netherlands. CloverMill offers opportunities to collaborate. The focus is on the work of emerging to mid-career female artists and curators.  -During our chat, we discussed her entry into art, how her practice has endured throughout the changes in her life and the impact it has on her. Also mentioned in this episode are some tales from her travels, ideas about her work and of course the story of how the residency came into being. - Thank you so much to Jenniferfor coming on the podcast.-You can find Jennifer and The Clovermill Artist Residency on Instagram@Jennifer_smith_art and @clovermill_artist_residencyand her website and Clovermill's siteFind all images discussed @Curatingconversationand The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_galleryIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests!Thank you so much.https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary Scottish artist Jacob Littlejohn.-Jacob Littlejohn is an Edinburgh based artist. He graduated from Glasgow School of art in 2018 and since then has undertaken a residency at Leith School of Art. His work revolves around the realm of human behaviour. Tackling isolation, separation and how individuals adapt to their environments, while recognising and honouring the melancholy and the poetics found in each individual day. His process evolves round a profound interest in the interpretation of literature, exploring media, techniques, composition and colour.-Jacob's fascination with art came while at school, and what followed was a series of set backs and failures that only spurred him on. Facing rejection from Art School multiple times, led him to change direction and work on his practice, eventually landing a place at Glasgow and later graduating with first class honours. -During our chat, we discussed his entry into art, how his practice has developed into the abstracted forms he now creates. ( Let me tell you now, it wasn't a straight forward journey). We touch on what is important to him, his surrounding community, his art practice and his desire to look deeper into the work he creates.- Thank you so much to Jacob for coming on the podcast.-You can find Jacob on Instagram@jacobalittlejohnand his websiteFind all images discussed @Curatingconversationand The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_galleryIf you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests!Thank you so much.https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show