In this episode, Rob Pepper speaks with sculptor and Art Academy founder Tanya Russell about the power of apprenticeship learning, why professional skills—not talent—are often the biggest barrier for young artists, and how she built one of the UK’s most distinctive art schools from scratch. From childhood in her parents’ sculpture studio to running her own successful foundry in rural Wales, Tanya shares candid insights into the creative process, sustaining an art career, and why ‘wonder’ might be the most important quality any artist can have.

Essential listening for educators, emerging creatives, and anyone interested in how real-world skills and creative confidence intersect.