Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Fiona Christian, from East Sussex, England, UK

I didn’t have any real ambition in my school days. My dream job at that time would have been either a marine biologist, a chef or a plate painter at one of the local potteries.

I also had an overwhelming desire to visit Australia!

Apart from winning a colouring competition when I was 10, I can’t recall any actual recognition. The first occasion that springs to mind would be having 3 of my images selected for the Los Angeles Mobile Arts Festival exhibition in 2012 and having one of them actually sell!

My first job was in a commercial graphic design & photographic studio. I was there for 4 years and worked my way up from general assistant to studio manager in that time, learning graphic art & design, studio photography and B&W developing & hand printing.

I attended a catholic, state comprehensive school. I can’t adequately convey how much I hated school and would regularly feign illness to avoid it.

Despite that, I somehow managed to pass all my exams!

Work. There was no way I was signing up for more school!

I started at the art studio 6 weeks after leaving school and 3 weeks after my 16th birthday.

I’m not sure I’ve ever had a mentor but there was an English teacher – Mr Cowley that always inspired me. On the rare occasions that I attended school, his lessons were the highlight. He was so passionate. He instilled a love of literature and writing that has always stayed with me.

My Mum was another strong influence. My brother and sisters range from between 14-21 yrs older than me and had therefor left home long before I grew up so I spent a lot of time alone with Mum. She was a keen cook and gardener and taught me all she knew. I learnt all the Latin plant names from an early age and many cookery skills such as bottling and jam making that I still enjoy today.

I have osteoarthritis in most of my joints but my hands have been getting steadily worse for a while. Some fingers don’t bend much at all now. My knees are also becoming difficult to bend and can be quite painful.

I’ve never been a fan of gyms and am positively allergic to activities such as jogging and cycling. That said, my job as an interior decorator does keep me relatively fit and I’ve recently discovered yoga which helps enormously. I wish I’d done it years ago! I’m convinced they should teach it in all schools as the benefits are incredible.

I think that depends on your definition of success.

If success is measured in financial terms, then ambition certainly helps as all the talent in the world won’t lead to wealth if there’s no desire or ability to market it.

In many cases, ambition and business acumen can produce success even when talent is in short supply.

Conversely, it’s possible to be supremely talented but have that talent go unrecognised if there is no ambition or marketing skills to  make anyone aware of those talents.

However, I don’t think that success should be gauged that way. If you can find time to do what makes you happy and even make a few other people happy along the way, I’d consider that a pretty successful lifestyle.

I suspect that the answer is ‘a little of both’

Not at all. I never read newspapers and rarely watch the news. I have my likes and dislikes of certain politicians and parties but generally i don’t follow any of it closely.

The world of politics is shifting into very dangerous waters these days with the rise in right wing agendas and that orange clown across the pond.  I’m not sure I could keep my blood pressure from going off the scale if I were to immerse myself in such matters on a regular basis.

I really can’t think of anything!

Ok, now I think about it.. a piece of Chihuly glass would be wonderful.

I could be described as many things but extravagant isn’t one of them. I can sniff out a bargain with shark-like efficiency.

Given the opportunity, it would probably be art. I’d make every room into a gallery if I could. And books!

That would have to be my home and garden. I’m lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country with views to the coast on a clear day. However I love travelling and seeing new places so I’m happy pretty much anywhere I happen to be, if I can take a few pics while I’m there.

I’ve always wanted to write a book. One of these days I’ll get around to it. There’s also a few places left to visit.

An inability to sit still and do nothing. My mind is constantly whirring away, thinking up things to do next.

Learning to scuba dive and qualifying as an instructor has to be up there, as I had (and still have) an intense dislike of water. I even stand with my back to the shower! In order to start the training course I first had to teach myself to swim. It was so worth it though! As a result I got to travel the world exploring wrecks and reefs, met some amazing people and spent a joyous afternoon diving with leafy seadragons off the south coast of Australia.

Oh, where to begin!?

Whilst there are many traits that I find unappealing, loud, brash people are probably the most irritating as I can be quite introverted much of the time.

Another would be people that find practical jokes and pranks amusing. I just don’t understand how anyone can derive pleasure from another’s contrived misfortune.

Who are you and what have you done with Fi?!

My Ford Capri. I’m not really interested in cars but I really loved that car. Apart from anything else, I’ve got long legs and short arms. It was made for me!

No.

A catholic education made a devout atheist of me at the age of 9. In fact, I’ll add religion to my ‘ most irritating’ list!

If I had to think on a spiritual level I would align more with a natural interconnectedness of things.

There are so many these days but the ecological crisis has to be the most pressing. Politicians and ideologies come and go but if something isn’t done about plastics and environmental damage the result will be catastrophic. We try and recycle all we can and refuse to buy anything containing palm oil but it does feel like it’s a losing battle at times.

Like most people, I’ve had my fair share of hard times but even they have led to positive outcomes eventually. I’d have to give it at least a 9.

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