Testimonials
A few hundred artists and writers have joined the small group workshops and individual mentoring and coaching sessions I’ve been running since 2020. It’s a fantastic ongoing adventure and a privilege to be working with and supporting so many voices and projects! Here’s some of the feedback received. Also, some process thoughts and individual contributions.
I have been working on a project that brings text and image together and joined Caroline’s Write-Up Challenge to explore the relationship between them. My first attempts were not always successful; however, the feedback I received from the group was invaluable in helping me to clarify my vision and better understand the ways in which the text can be integral to the image.
— Jaclyn Piudik, poet and photographer, 2025.
"Working closely with Caroline and being exposed to her affinity for historical literature prompted me to reach beyond the timeline of my recent ancestors, and out to the deeper past of my most direct cultural heritage, which is currently known as Korean. Employing this methodology, I was able to connect to the time-space of one thousand years ago, and produce these short bilingual miniature poems, which became the foundation for a 45-minute performance work.
— Una Lee, composer and performer, Po(e)sis, 2024.
As a result of our coaching, I have started my book project. It has moved from being in my head to being crafted.
— Sebastian R., coach and social entrepeneur. Creative Coaching 2024-25
This project A Pilgrimage to Blue was all about the colour blue and what it could mean, how it could physically and emotionally absorb you. I also wanted to work much more freely and intuitively - so I’d start each day at five with a meditative process, grinding my own pigments and then make a piece, working almost as a dance with it on the floor, using brushes on long canes, sponges and anything that came to hand, so that with painting was more instinctual and unconscious. Caroline was the perfect mentor to encourage me into this new space!
— Ruth Philo, painter, 2025
@ruthphilo
I feel a return of confidence and momentum, and simple excitement for the work. I also can acknowledge and grasp all that I have accomplished already.
— Corrine, poet and editor. Write-Up Challenge 2025
I would WHOLE-HEARTEDLY recommend. If you are feeling stuck or tentative about your work, Caroline lifts the veil of uncertainty so that you can see your work with fresh eyes.
— Creative Research Participant, 2022
Through the mentoring with Caroline I have gained a real confidence in owning all of my practice, including the mess and confusion of early research and works in progress. Having the time and space set aside to really reflect on my own practice has been so wonderful. I have finished each session so excited and enthusiastic about my own practice and what might come next.
— Joanna J, writer & producer. Art Practice Mentoring, 2022
A good facilitator knows when to give direction and when to step back and let the conversations that are starting unfold. Caroline does a great job at that, and at opening up a space to enter and engage with everyone’s work and process. The Write Up Challenge was a really generative experience for me.
— Brad, poet. Write-Up Challenge 2025
Working with Caroline is life-changing, art-practice-changing in the most affirmative and authentic and complex of ways. Caroline has an unusual gift for knowing what to say – and what not to say, knowing how to say key words, or make suggestions, that allowed me to explore, without being heavy-handed, and yet with the utmost subtlety and precision.
— Diana T, artist & poet. Art Practice Mentoring 2021-22
Caroline’s compassionate approach provided a creative and supportive environment for sharing work across time zones. Each participant had their own unique practice, but the workshop style enabled us all to share our work, give and receive feedback, and encourage each other. I am definitely a better artist after this workshop.
— Trine, multi-disciplinary artist. Write-Up Challenge 2025
Caroline has helped me to broaden the scope of my project, offering insights, stimulation and encouragement, at the same time creating a space for my own imagination to flourish and for my artistic practice to evolve in exciting new ways. I am ever grateful for her warmth and for her guidance.
— Jaclyn P, poet & scholar. Art Practice Mentoring 2022
Without doubt, one of the most valuable aspects of the course for me was its duration and depth - the sustained dialogue was an extremely enjoyable and fulfilling way of developing creative relationships with a wonderful range of practitioners.
— Practice Conversation Participant, 2022
After eight weeks of intense interaction I feel like I am a changed artist. It has increased my confidence and makes me take more creative risks. I would recommend this course to any artist wanting to deepen their practice and gain better self-awareness of themselves both as a person and an artist.
— Practice Conversation Participant, 2021
Working with Caroline is an expansive and exciting process; things move fast, connect, flicker, catch, and instil. A lot happens in a brief time, drawing embers through work that remains long after the screen closes.
— Collaborative Writing Participant
Very nourishing and generative. A focused energy within and for the group.
— Practice Conversation Participant, 2021
Caroline is a wonderful facilitator, very generous, open-minded and welcoming. She really encourages people to be experimental and trustful.
— Collaborative Writing Participant
I learned how to experiment more with ideas and how to disrupt the perception of how work should be conceived.
— Visual Writing Participant, 2023
You gave me a lot to think about and it’s been an absolute pleasure to meet and work with you.
— Arlette, artist and poet. Art Practice Mentoring 2024
Each session introduced me to new artists / authors I'm still exploring. I had time / space to figure out certain things not only about the project I brought to the course, but also about my process / practice: priorities, solutions, future strategies.
— Practice Conversation Participant
The variety of approaches among the assembled artists was deeply engaging for me. I also looked more carefully at my own practices and understood them more fully.
— Practice Conversation Participant 2022