'To bring you even closer to the creative minds behind the art, we’ve launched a brand-new Q&A series featuring conversations with our showcased artists. Through these candid sessions, we uncover their journeys as individuals and creators—exploring their unique processes and sources of inspiration. Read on for their thoughtful responses to a series of curated questions. Our heartfelt thanks go out to each artist for sharing their time and insights so openly with us.'
Paul
Laura Tinald
a) When did you first realise that you wanted to become an artist?
Sounds cheesy, but I always knew! Drawing and painting were always my favourite things to do, even as a very young child.
(b) Is there a piece of art or artist that changed your life, if so what/who was/is it and how did your life change?
I have a vivid memory of being at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery when I was a kid and seeing La donna della Finestra (Unfinished) and being blown away. I was captivated by the beautiful detailed face and hands, against the orange background and the fact it was unfinished, yet balanced. Later, at College, I discovered the fashion illustrator, David Downton, who has heavily influenced my style.
(c) How do you pick your Icon subjects?, what draws you towards the 70's and 80's and how would you define an icon?
I am drawn to the 70s and 80s because of the pop culture of that time and a lot of my favourite music came was made then. For me, an icon is someone whose appeal transcends their lifetime or the era they first became popular.
(d) What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a life in art?
You can never be too good at what you do, so keep practising your craft. Also make the most of the free channels where you can publish and promote your work.
(e) Who is your favourite person to paint and why?
David Bowie, Prince and Audrey Hepburn. They all have the most beautiful, angular faces.
(f) Where do you see your art in 10 years?
Hopefully on a sleek hardback coffee table book about music icons.
(g) Your partnership with Sweet Theatre chocolate bars is impressive, could you talk a little about the partnership and your thought process, creating images to match the products?
Sweet Theatre is the brainchild of Sally Wood, who is a theatre producer. She saw my work at a café in Moseley, Birmingham and got in touch to tell me she liked it. Then, when she decided to create her own range of chocolate bars, she asked if I would like to illustrate the wrappers. It was a really fun project! Each of the wrappers shows a Shakespearian heroin, so I kept these characters in mind when creating the illustrations and tried to make each one unique.
(h) What question would you want to be asked in an interview about your art?
I think we have covered it!!
www.lauratinald.co.uk
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Harumi Hironaka
a) When did you first realise that you wanted to become an artist?
Growing up, I never knew that being an artist could be a real thing. I was born in a country where most artists need another job to make a living, and as the granddaughter of immigrants, I was raised in a pretty traditional environment where pursuing art seriously wasn’t encouraged. So I never had a big “realization” moment… it just kind of happened while I was doing other things.
b) Is there a piece of art or an artist that changed your life? If so, what/who was it, and how did your life change?
Real tough question. I can think of so many movies, shows, songs, books, and paintings that have touched me and shaped me in different ways. But in this particular context, I’d have to say Sailor Moon, haha. I remember being a little girl, watching the anime and being completely blown away by the colors, the figures, the expressions. I drew and painted all the characters, and that’s probably where the obsession really began.
c) How do you choose your subjects? Are they based on people you know?
I think my subjects are actually one single “being” that kind of haunts me (or I haunt her, I’m not sure). Sometimes I find her in real people. Other times I have to piece her together myself, like my own little Frankenstein creation made from parts that I like. And when all else fails, I use myself as reference, but I change every feature until I can’t see myself in it anymore.
d) What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a life in art?
I think everybody has to find their own way. What is true for me might not be true for them. But I’d remind them that what they create does matter. Even on the days when the world makes you feel like it doesn’t, and maybe especially on those days.
e) Could you describe your process and how producing art makes you feel?
My process is mostly intuitive. Once I’ve transferred the sketch onto the paper, I don’t really follow a strict formula. Since I work with mixed media, I just pick whatever feels right at the time (colored pencils, acrylic, oil) usually whatever will get me the result I want the fastest. Painting like this is exciting, but also terrifying for an anxious person like me. I barely know what I’m doing half the time, but somehow it still feels right. And it works! I go from loving it, to hating it, and then back to loving it again… until I finally give up obsessing over it and call it finished.
f) Where do you see your art in 10 years?
I’ve always had a hard time picturing myself (or my art) far into the future. Thinking beyond tomorrow has never been my strength. But I do hope that in ten years we’re both doing great. I hope my work has grown in ways I can’t yet imagine, that it still feels honest, and that it’s reaching the people who are meant to see it. If I can keep creating with the same curiosity and stubbornness that keep me going now, I think I’ll be exactly where I need to be.
g) What question would you want to be asked in an interview about your art?
I think I’d want to be asked a question I never gave much importance to in the past: my formation as an artist. I used to feel self-aware and insecure about being self-taught. So when my paintings started becoming popular, my imposter syndrome went straight through the roof. It was paralyzing at times, and I still deal with it occasionally. But I’ve come to realize that maybe it’s in the chaos of my process that the appeal of my work lies. I have a feeling people sense it and it speaks to them. So now that I kind of know what I’m doing, I have to remind myself to let go a little, to have fun with it, and stay honest. My work might look better now, in terms of technique, but it will always be messy and conflicted on the inside.
And I like it that way.
www.instagram.com/harumi_hironaka/
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Paul Connor
a) When did you first realise that you wanted to become an collector of art and then own a gallery?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve not only collected art but drawn profound inspiration from it. My admiration for artists runs deep, and I am convinced that art is such a powerful medium that it can genuinely transform culture for the better. Art is a vivid flash of the human spirit, speaking to the very heart of what it means to be human—where creativity, imagination, and skill come together to create thought‑provoking beauty. As a gallery owner, my purpose is to share this passion and champion the artists who make this work possible. The world needs more beauty, more imagination, and more artistic endeavour—and I am committed to nurturing and showcasing exactly that.'
(b) Is there a piece of art or artist that changed your life, if so what/who was/is it and how did your life change?
'For more than 50 years, I’ve been captivated by art and the people who create it—yes, that does give my age away. I first lost myself in the shimmering worlds of Impressionism and the exquisite Japanese woodblock prints of the Ukiyo‑e period. Then, in 2012, I stepped into a gallery and encountered Candice Tripp’s “This Will Hurt Tomorrow,” and in that instant, everything changed. That single work didn’t just catch my eye; it completely altered the course of my life. It’s a striking example of an artist at the height of her powers—a sublime collision of colour, meticulous detail, and mature themes, all playfully embodied by otherworldly children in shadowy woods.
(c) How do you pick your art and artists?
For me, it’s simple: it all comes down to emotion. I need to feel that rush of awe—sometimes even a little jolt of shock. A work has to move me on a deeper level. Of course, the artist’s skill and the strength of the composition matter, but popularity or investment value have never guided my choices when I decide what to acquire or showcase.
(d) What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a life in art?
'Over the years, I’ve noticed a few defining qualities in the artists, performers, and athletes I admire most: unwavering dedication, quiet resilience, relentless determination, and a fierce passion and belief in their chosen path. I’m convinced that what you choose to pursue will not only be deeply meaningful to you, but will also create a positive impact in the world—making every sacrifice of time, energy, and resources truly worthwhile. I know I still have a journey ahead to build a gallery that is both financially strong and highly respected by the artists I represent, but I’m wholeheartedly committed to that vision.'
(e) Who is your favourite artist to why?
'No Comment'
(f) Where do you see your art gallery in 10 years?
'Bigger, better, brighter and bolder!! – In the years ahead, my greatest ambition is to earn the genuine respect of the artists I represent through unwavering ethics, honesty, and a shared passion for art. I aim to continue growing a community of dedicated collectors who value my guidance, trust my eye, and champion the gallery’s vision. Above all, I want to be in a position to introduce powerful work and talented artists to a much wider audience, inspiring more people to recognise just how vital and transformative art can be in our modern world.
(g) What question would you want to be asked in an interview about your art gallery?
“How can I dive deeper into the world of art?”
Our answer: immerse yourself. Explore online resources, browse your local library, and spend time in galleries and museums both nearby and further afield. Ask questions, connect with like‑minded enthusiasts, and join creative communities. The more you get involved, the more you’ll see, feel, and fall in love with the art around you. Let curiosity lead you—and be inspired.
www.connorcontemporary.com
Details of the art featured:
Candice Tripp
'This will hurt tomorrow'
2012
Edition of 65, signed and numbered
12 colours on Somerset Satin Paper 300gsm
85 x 87 cm
www.candicetripp.com
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Sandra De La Cruz
(a) How would you describe your artistic style?
My style would be a kind of neo-expressionism in painting and intimate figurative with elements of fantasy in drawing
(b)When did you first realize that you wanted to become an artist?
I have always liked art, but I considered it as a profession only after meeting other artists outside the gallery circuit who could make a living with illustration and graphic design, for example.
(c)Is there a work of art or an artist that has changed your life? If so, which one(s) and how did it change your life?
Conrad Roset was one of those illustrators who made me see that it was possible to create art that was more approachable and applicable to more sectors. Then all the classic artists like Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Magritte, Picasso, and a long list who inspire me so much both for their lives and their work.
(d)What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a life in art?
The advice I was given: draw, draw, and draw. I would say experiment without fear of the blank page, mix things up, and let your works serve to bring out and share what’s inside you, whether it’s good or bad.
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Alexandra Gallagher
a) When did you first realise that you wanted to become an artist?
It is a cliche answer, but I’ve always wanted to be an artist. For as long as I can remember I have said I’m going to be an artist… there was a brief moment I wanted to be a pop star when I was five and also wanted to do musical theatre - but I can’t sing… or dance! But being an artist has always been a thing.
b) Is there a piece of art or an artist that changed your life?
Oh blimey, that’s really tough! Inspiration wise I’d have to say Jenny Saville. I was introduced to her work when I was at collage. The way she uses the medium to create her pieces and I absolutely love the boldness of her work too. I found that so inspiring!
For me personally as an artist there have been so many people that have influenced, guided me, introduced me to new things. My tutor and artist Richard Cross. Artist Victoria Horkan when I first started out, bought a piece of my work and gave me so much advice and guidance - bit like an art god mother (we have joked about that) and then there’s artist Hayley Walsh who introduced me to street art and helped me do my first street art piece, which then opened up a new way of working for me… there have been so many though, that have shared, supported, collaborated… everyone I come across I learn something, or they have influence in some way. I love that about the art community
If so, what/who was it, and how did your life change?
c) How do you choose your subjects?
The subjects within the artwork? Feeling, it’s all in the feeling I get from them. Whether it’s just a found image, a reference photo, or the person themselves that I know or get to know. It’s just a vibe and intuition.
For the overall subject matter - again it’s really organic. I use the surrealist form of collage to create the sketch and very much work from the subconscious. A story forms as I’m working. Or I have a narrative in mind. A story I’d like to tell or a subject and I research for symbolic references and stories from different cultures, faiths, history, mythology etc to work into a piece. I usually do this through the symbology of birds, animals, colours, insects, flowers, fauna etc.
d) What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a life in art?
Go for it! But you have to be persistent and probably have a hint of insanity - you’ve got to have a certain level of delusion and faith in yourself, because you will get rejected a lot. You’ll meet criticism of your work, not everyone is going to like it, but art is subjective - Not everyone is meant to like it. You have to work hard, you have to practice, you have to also be patient. You need to be passionate about what you do, it’s part of who you are and you need to never stop learning… also don’t believe there’s a right way or a wrong way to do things. When I first started out, I thought you had to do things a certain way to get “into” the art world. To be represented. Like going to preview shows, going to the galleries, making connections, be in London. This wasn’t available to me. I had two children to look after - so I was cheeky and just started emailing galleries. I was really lucky these galleries took a chance on me. Also keep entering open calls and prizes too… but most of all you just have to do what feels right for you and if you meet a hurdle try to find a way around it… and don’t be a pretentious. Nobody actually likes that.
e) Could you describe your process and how producing art makes you feel?
As I mentioned before I use collage to create a sketch. I used to sketch traditionally, but it didn’t keep up with my brain. I then found collage - accidentally, as my youngest daughter kept painting over my work (helping) I had to turn to a different way of creating and it was kind of an Erika moment. I found that it kept up with my brain and stopped me overworking something - it kept things more visceral and organic.
Once I have a sketch I use that as either the base of an oil painting, or I work into it more to become a mix media piece or a collage. I really love to work in different mediums, so it just depends on the project and what I’m trying to achieve.
Making art is to me like breathing. It’s who I am. I’m absolutely and wholly obsessed. I love looking at art, learning about it, creating it. I’m someone who constantly needs to create… I’m an a pain to live with if I can’t. It’s how I express myself and communicate… it really is just who I am… that really is cliche isn’t it. Honestly though I’ve had periods in my life where I have not been able to, and I just get very depressed.
f) Where do you see your art in 10 years?
Still creating. I hope to do this till the day I die. I want to be the eccentric old lady with blue eye shadow up to her eyebrows still painting away.
But in ten years I hope to be celebrating a new body of work. I’ve just spent the past 10 years creating the work I do. It started as a series called birds with birds and just kept going. This year I want to take things in a slightly new direction. I want to go back to painting more and loosen things up. I’ve matured and got older. I’m in a new part of my life and I’ve learnt so much. I want my new work to reflect that.
g) What question would you want to be asked in an interview about your art?
Off the top of my head I have no idea to be honest… I think the best questions I got were from a class I did via zoom for the University of Beirut in Lebanon. It was a feminist class and they had been analysing my work. The questions they asked and how they talked about my work was so refreshing - it was like they totally got it. Like they had peeked into my brain as I was creating it. I think that class will always stay with me. I felt so privileged to be part of the discussion and to be invited to chat to the students … I also wanted to join every class after that - it was so much fun.
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