
Sally Ward – policy advising and portrait painting
About this episode
Why being an artist DOESN'T mean you have to do it full time
Career-wise, Sally Ward balances her roles as a civil servant and as a portrait artist, and finds fulfilment, enjoyment and challenges in each.
She was a prolific artist as a youngster, and was allowed by her secondary school to go to the local sixth-form college to take life-drawing classes at the age of 14.
She was very interested in her other studies and went on to study music at Cambridge University, before working as an advisor for the Treasury, where she still works, albeit in a different capacity.
During the university and early work years her paintbrushes remained untouched, but when she did begin painting portraits again – first in watercolours then in her beloved oil paints – this side of her flourished, and commissions began to flood in.
Sally has cut down her hours at the Treasury, has been exhibited by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, been a finalist on Sky’s Portrait Artist of the Year competition and begun writing a column for The Artist. How does she balance it all?
'Hopefully, I might be able to dispel a few myths that in order to be an artist you have to be doing it full time.’
CreativityFound.co.uk
Instagram: @creativityfoundpodcast
Facebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found group
YouTube @creativityfoundpodcast
Pinterest: @creativityfound
Twitter: @creativityfoun
Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound
Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram
Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here
Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout
Get every episode summarized
Each time Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

Fuzzy Sharks Reimagine Marine Conservation with Jessica Adanich
Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

Ancient Worlds and New Chapters with Neil Laird
Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

Puzzled About Everything with Monica Marlatt
Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

From Corporate Stress to Creative Success with Bonny Snowdon
Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life