Reflections on current projects
Speaking on a panel discussion at Timber Festival 2022 with PLACE Collective
As many of you know I wear a few different hats, which makes my coaching space all the more juicy and interesting! So here’s a little update of some of the projects I’ve been working on lately.
Since the start of 2023 I have become an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Cumbria, working as visual artist as part of the PLACE Collective to “use creative processes to inspire conversations about land use, nature and culture, and bring divergent voices together in an ongoing dialogue about landscape care.”
‘Watershed’ brings perspectives together: rethinking the relationships and processes of landscape change (https://theplacecollective.org/watershed/).
As a group of 5 visual artists, poet’s, photographers and musicians, we are exploring creative languages to bring voices to the communities and landscape of the wonderful valley of Ullswater, where I grew up.
Stakeholders and custodians of the land from national land protection charities to local communities have been involved to bring their voices and views and the final exhibition in July will form part of a research base that feeds into Harriet’s PHD.
Being part of a collaborative group is both productive and rewarding, and I’m enjoying being fully immersed in the creative role - so often with these kinds of projects much of the energy is consumed in managing the project, and in this project Rob and Harriet are the PMs, leaving all my focus to be submerged in the creative role. A real treat.
As designer / illustrator (https://www.studiokgb.co.uk/) I’m working on a book jacket commission for a publication close to my heart - coaching. This is a real treat, because the collaborative nature of developing the ideas and visuals is quite rare and thoroughly enjoyable (and, of course, produces the best results). Can’t tell you any more about that yet but all will be revealed!
As illustrator / designer I’ve also been producing some visuals for PDS which has been an excellent journey, because you guessed it - working with brilliant people brings brilliant results, and yet again the subject is bang on target for my coaching curiosities - developing company culture as the company expands and working with teams around the UK to co-create a vibrant ethos and identity.
I’m visiting Timber Festival again this year as part of another collaborative arts team and will be developing site specific installations in 3 places during the festival, responding to place. Looking forward to this! Timber fest comes from beautiful roots (excuse the pun!) of Art Ideas and Music….
In between these creative projects I run The Studio Morland - an Arts, Wellbeing and Leadership venue in the beautiful Eden Valley. I co-founded this studio 6 years ago to bring quality arts and creative experiences to a rural community and to encourage professional and personal development and learning. We call the studio a ‘safe place for creative exploration’ and whether that means taking part in team coaching or pushing poises in pilates it’s a place where you can explore and celebrate authenticity whatever that means to you.
And with coaching - I’m near to completing my ICF accreditation diploma with Optimus Coach Academy which has been an amazing journey and one I’ve thrived from being part of. I’ve really enjoyed the diversity of subjects this diploma offered - some of which are very close to heart and coaching practice - including neuroscience, positive psychology, somatics.
My clients will know how I enjoy using lots of different techniques in coaching - from metaphor (that infamous ’mouse on the moon’ I have already posted about on the blog here to visual tools, drawing and imagination, to tools that I’ve developed and am proud of (I haven’t published the circle of sanity yet but certain clients will know how impactful and useful it has been)..
In coaching I am developing a new group coaching programme (https://kateb.co.uk/groupcoaching) - for CEOs, business owners and leaders interested in developing better levels of personal and professional excellence.
For my 121 clients I continue to support and co-create space to help them to the next level of the journey (https://kateb.co.uk/121), offering some wonderfully effective and enjoyable conversations and tools to push those little steps into greater leaps. It’s a fantastic and privileged place to be and i am always grateful to be able to hold this space.
There’s plenty to feed your imagination I’m sure!
Feel free to message for coaching, art, landscape, wellbeing and other explorations of human-ness….
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