Celebrating Creativity

Celebrating Creativity: Why Our Art Is Enough

I am a creative, and I am proud. It’s all I’ve ever known. From sketching endless drawings in my childhood bedroom to earning a Fine Art degree, creativity has shaped every step of my journey. I spent years teaching Art and Photography, eventually leading a faculty as Head of Creative Arts and Technology. And yet, even now, in my seventh year as a newborn and motherhood photographer, I catch myself making excuses for not being good at Maths or English in school.

Just this morning, I heard another creative do the same. While working out at the gym, I noticed a strong, confident woman lifting heavy weights beside me. Inspired by her strength, I turned and said, “Oh, aren’t you a tattooist?” She immediately responded—not by owning her talent, but by excusing her poor maths skills and saying she liked to draw instead.

It struck me: Why do we do this? Why do we feel the need to justify our creativity by downplaying our academic strengths? Why isn’t being an artist, a maker, or a visionary enough?

I could blame society, the education system, or the way success is often measured in grades and test scores. But the truth is, I loved school. I just loved drawing and taking photographs more. And that should have been enough.

Creativity is not a consolation prize for those who don’t excel in traditional academics. It is intelligence in its own right—an ability to see the world differently, to express emotion, to capture fleeting moments, and to bring ideas to life. It takes courage to create, to share your vision with the world, to pursue a path that doesn’t always come with clear steps or guarantees.

So today, I’m choosing to celebrate what I do. I am an artist. I tell stories through my lens. I create something out of nothing. I see beauty in the details. And that is more than enough.

To all the creatives out there: Stop apologising. Stop justifying. What you do is important. What you create matters. And the world needs more of it.