INFLUENCES AND INSPIRATIONS Wonderful people, pieces and places
The summer exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts 2026
These artworks were my favourites for their sheer uniqueness, embracing the quirks and weirdness of the world around us. Their originality and imagination feel especially striking in an ever-changing world of AI.
These artworks were my favourites for their sheer uniqueness, embracing the quirks and weirdness of the world around us. Their originality and imagination feel especially striking in an ever-changing world of AI.
Yoshimoto Nara
Yoshitomo Nara influences my creative practice through his use of childlike imagery to communicate deeper themes of loneliness, rebellion and vulnerability. I’m drawn to the contrast between the simplicity and playfulness of his figures and the complex emotions they convey. His work inspires me to experiment with colour and accessible visual language while exploring more personal, darker themes, showing how art can appear playful while carrying significant emotional depth.
Nature!
Nature is a constant source of inspiration in my life and creative practice. I am drawn to its colours, textures and imperfections, finding beauty in the overlooked details of the natural world. It influences my artistic direction, encouraging me to experiment intuitively and create work that reflects a sense of freedom, curiosity and connection to my surroundings.
Nature is a constant source of inspiration in my life and creative practice. I am drawn to its colours, textures and imperfections, finding beauty in the overlooked details of the natural world. It influences my artistic direction, encouraging me to experiment intuitively and create work that reflects a sense of freedom, curiosity and connection to my surroundings.
My favourite musicians
Music has always been a huge influence on my life and my own songwriting, shaping the way I express emotions, tell stories and explore different sounds. I’m particularly inspired by artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, David Bowie, Neil Young, The Smashing Pumpkins and The Cure, whose music each brings something unique through its lyricism, atmosphere and individuality. I’m drawn to music that feels raw and honest, blending vulnerability with experimentation, and hope to bring these qualities into my own writing while developing a sound that feels personal and authentic.
Tracy emin
Tracey Emin influences my creative practice through her raw, unapologetic exploration of sex, emotion, vulnerability and illness. I admire how she transforms personal experiences into art, challenging social expectations and embracing imperfection. Her work inspires me to approach my own creativity with honesty, using emotion and lived experience to create work that feels personal and authentic.
Italy
My travels, particularly my two-month art course in Italy, have had a profound influence on me artistically, spiritually and emotionally. Spending time in Florence, Rome and Venice allowed me to experience Renaissance art firsthand, deepening my appreciation for historical techniques, beauty and artistic expression. Beyond the artworks themselves, I was inspired by the atmosphere, architecture and sense of history embedded in each city. These experiences broadened my creative perspective, encouraging me to see art as something deeply connected to place, culture, spirituality and the human experience.
My travels, particularly my two-month art course in Italy, have had a profound influence on me artistically, spiritually and emotionally. Spending time in Florence, Rome and Venice allowed me to experience Renaissance art firsthand, deepening my appreciation for historical techniques, beauty and artistic expression. Beyond the artworks themselves, I was inspired by the atmosphere, architecture and sense of history embedded in each city. These experiences broadened my creative perspective, encouraging me to see art as something deeply connected to place, culture, spirituality and the human experience.
Anish Kapoor
Anish Kapoor influences me through his ability to break the boundaries of what art should be. His unsettling work challenges traditional art-making while exploring themes of ritual and mortality, encouraging viewers to confront uncomfortable ideas.
