ABOUT
CHERRY JEFFS
Did you always want to be an artist?
I painted my first ‘canvas’ aged 3 with crayons on my grandma’s bath.
Result? A royal telling off from my Mum.
So, although deep down I always knew I wanted to be an artist, from an early age I associated free self-expression with a pretty negative outcome!
Despite going to art school and running different creative businesses, it took me the first half of my life to find my way through my creative blocks. Like so many I have Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way to thank for starting that process. And Sean McNiff’s Trust the Process for completely changing my paradigm.
Why the obsession with growing wings?
As I developed my fine art practice, I began to notice that many of my works featured figures trying to escape from their earthly bonds and take to the skies. Eventually I realised I was painting a metaphor for my own creative struggles - and that of others - so my “Grow creative wings” strap-line was born.
Do you consider yourself an artist or coach first and foremost?
“Artist!”
Regular creative practice is my fuel. Without it, my life would lose its meaning. And, of course, my own daily wrangles help me empathise with what my clients are experiencing.
That said, I’m a passionate coach. I get a tremendous satisfaction from seeing my clients sprout creative wings and take to the skies!