Why work with me? I Help You To See The Wood For The Trees.

• Nearly 30 years creative and cultural sector experience
• Raised over £8m for the arts for project, core and capital including ACE NPO, Capital Lottery and Trusts & Foundations
• Expertise across art forms, scales and platforms
• Over 100 clients, from individual artists and creatives to organisations
• Delivered 70+ productions, tours, events, festivals

Whether it’s helping you to see the wood for the trees, getting to grips with your project budget or needing some support with planning your next steps, work with me, I can help.

Fiona did a fantastic job of tackling what felt like a large and complex challenge. She took time to listen and analyse from every angle, consult stakeholders and identify a range of potential opportunities before presenting a clear and robust plan with concise and manageable recommendations.

Darren Grice – Norfolk Venues Network / (former) Chief Executive, The Garage

Why Work With Me? I Have Nearly 30-years of Experience.

I’ve worked in the arts for nearly three decades and have gained experience and expertise across a wide range of activities at a senior level. I have a large network of skilled associates who I collaborate with on specific projects.

Fiona seems to strive through each and every challenge, seeing the possibility, achieving the impossible and taking everyone with her. I truly believe without Fiona’s skills, experience, knowledge and sound perspective many projects would have been much harder to achieve, if at all.

Paul Russ
CEO and Artistic Director Dance4

Why Work With Me? I Have Raised over £8m for the Arts.

To date, I’ve raised over £8m for arts productions and projects, which includes revenue, capital and project funding. I’m a full member of the Institute of Fundraising. I’ve created comprehensive business plans, which have been the backbone of high-value regular funding from Arts Council England and local authorities.

Fiona has all the great qualities of a Producer – listening and responding to the artist and guiding with strength, structure and imagination.

Kate Flatt, Director, Choreographer

Why Work With Me? I Work Across Art Forms and at Different Scales.

I have worked with leading artists and companies in dance, music, theatre and live art. I’ve partnered with UK venues and organisations including the Southbank Centre, the Barbican and the Royal Opera House. I’ve produced multiple events ranging from small- and mid-scale tours to festivals, workshops, conferences and album releases.

I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Fiona, ever. I not only knew the work was being done to a high standard, but I looked forward to our meetings, conversations and problem solving. When asked if I know of a person that could be an executive producer, director, strategist, bid writer, facilitator and business consultant I think of Fiona. The cultural sector is the richer for her leadership and influence.

Paul Russ
CEO and Artistic Director Dance4

Why Work With Me? I Help You To Find Your Own Solutions.

Consultants are often brought in to provide a magic bullet: to find answers and to create a strategy. But when these don’t reflect the culture, values and language of the organisation, they don’t tend to stick or prove effective.

My approach is different. I help you to articulate your question in your own words and to reach your own solution. I achieve this through listening, asking questions, teasing out the problem, making connections and spotting opportunities.

No-one knows your project or problem better than you do. With some time, focus and guidance, you already have the solution.

You might feel in need of some expert help, but it’s likely that you need less time with a consultant than you might think.  A lot can be achieved with an hour-long Skype surgery and email support, sharing ideas and information. So it doesn’t matter where you are based or what your budget is, we can still work effectively together.

Both HMUK and participants felt that Fi was a very friendly and approachable evaluator.  We are really pleased with her work in providing a comprehensive evaluation of our fellowship programme. The information Fi captured and presented will be very useful in informing future iterations of this funding initiative. We would recommend her highly.

Claire Gevaux
Programme Director, Help Musicians UK

Why Work With Me? I’m On The Journey With You.

I support you or your team remotely via Skype or phone, or in person, from as little as a 1-hour surgery to longer-term or more involved projects.

My areas of expertise are:

• mentoring and coaching across personal, professional and organisational development
• artist and organisational development and strategic planning
• fundraising planning, funder research, options appraisals and building the case for support
• delivering training sessions on arts management, project management, fundraising and more
• writing and editing publications, articles, plans and reports

I’m a creative problem solver with an unflappable, calm and friendly personality. I work with a wide range of people including boards and senior management, artists, individuals and the general public.

Fiona is a highly personable and experienced professional. In delivering sessions for MusicTank, University of Westminster, Fiona has been consistently detailed and organised in delivering our requirements and is a positive and effective communicator. Nothing is too much trouble and we appreciated her flexibility in approach. She’s a consumate professional.

Jonathan Robinson Programme Director, MusicTank
University of Westminster

If you’d like to work with me or to find out how I can help you or your project, please get in touch.

p.s. Credit to the artist (whose name I’ve not been able to find) who created this illustration of a woman spinning plates. She is wild and creative. She is juggling multiple priorities and supporting them with grace. She’s making space for that all important cup of tea, over which so much personal and professional business is done. She’s living life in colour.