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Students attending this week’s Reach Higher lunchtime talk enjoyed an energetic and engaging session with local artist Ross Easterby, whose infectious enthusiasm for creativity had students reaching for their pens almost as soon as he arrived!
Ross, who is also a DJ and Vice President of Data & Technology at Barclays, shared his unconventional journey into art. Having missed out on GCSE Art because of a timetable clash, he discovered his passion for drawing and painting during the Covid lockdowns. With his DJ work on hold, he taught himself through YouTube tutorials, eventually developing a distinctive, colourful style that has led to exhibitions at local galleries and festivals, alongside co-founding his creative business, Green Gaia.
Explaining that doodling during meetings helps him concentrate, Ross handed out paper and Posca pens, his artistic ‘secret weapon’, inviting students to draw throughout the talk. As he spoke, he highlighted interesting colour combinations, shapes and patterns emerging in their work, creating a wonderfully interactive atmosphere in which students could immediately put his advice into practice.
Ross shared his artistic influences, including Matisse, Picasso, Warhol and Alphonse Mucha, encouraging students to remain curious and explore artists they genuinely enjoy rather than simply following popular styles.
A particularly thought-provoking discussion explored artificial intelligence in the creative industries. Ross spoke enthusiastically about AI as a tool for generating concepts and developing designs, while emphasising the enduring value of handmade artwork: “Humans are social creatures who crave connection and that’s what an original work of art does.”
This connected closely with his advice about developing an individual artistic voice. Referencing Bob Ross’s famous ‘happy little accidents’, he encouraged students to embrace mistakes, experiment fearlessly and worry less about what others think. Trying too hard to please everyone, he explained, risks producing generic work, whereas individuality is what makes an artist stand out.
Ross also offered practical advice, encouraging students to master the fundamentals of drawing, particularly perspective, and avoid becoming overly reliant on digital tools. He described challenging himself to draw every day for a year and recommended carrying a sketchbook everywhere. Art, he explained, is about practice rather than perfection, and reaching for a pencil instead of endlessly scrolling through TikTok can also benefit our mental wellbeing!
He concluded with a creative challenge: find an artist who inspires you, study their style, start drawing with shapes rather than details and, most importantly, create something containing a little bit of yourself. Be brave, have fun and never apologise for your individuality.
Ross’s visit was a wonderful reminder that creativity develops through curiosity, persistence and a willingness to give things a go. In an increasingly digital world, his message was especially timely: our individuality is what makes our creativity valuable.
We are extremely grateful to Ross for sharing his experiences and boundless enthusiasm, leaving students with renewed excitement for making art and the confidence to discover their own creative voice.
