Join Patricia van den Akker in the Round Tower, 9.30am-4pm on Wednesday 11th February 2026
Spaces for the workshop are strictly limited, priced at £30 per person, and will be offered on a first come first served basis. To register your interest, please email hotwallsstudios@portsmouthcc.gov.uk and provide your name, your preferred contact email address, and your business name (if applicable).
Following an intensive workshop in July last year, creative business advisor Patricia is back for another session of tips and tricks to develop your creative business. Patricia is an award-winning creative business coach, trainer and speaker who’s worked with thousands of creatives across the UK and beyond for over 20 years. She is the Director of The Design Trust (the online business school for designers, makers & other creatives) and the author of Teaching Creative Workshops In Person & Online. She’s known for her inspiring, honest and practical approach to creative business development. She’s passionate about empowering artists, makers and designers to build creative, impactful, meaningful and profitable businesses.
The day will be split into three key sections:
What’s the ‘Marketing Freeze’? What stops you from marketing yourself, when you know you need to! Some questions & exercises around procrastination, amateur vs professional mindset, and how to shift your mindset from reactive to pro-active marketing.
Dream clients – how to identify, get to know and approach them: Difference between trade & consumers. With specific advice on how to identify galleries/art consultants, and how to get potential trade & consumer clients to your website or space (for workshops, commissions, b2b) e.g. SEO keywords, email marketing, networking/outreach/database, possibly online presence e.g. website and social media.
Create a 6 month marketing plan: Starting with setting a financial goal & income streams; identifying 2-3 marketing projects to get ready & more confident & professional; to identifying specific marketing actions per month.
This workshop is open to all, whether you’re an established local business looking to focus in on these key areas or a developing business seeking professional guidance – there’s something for everyone! Expect a day of lively conversation, practical planning and small business advice, and quiet time too to reflect and work on your own business ideas. You’ll be part of a friendly, focused group of up to 20 creatives. The aim of the day is that you’ll leave with new confidence, fresh business & marketing ideas, and a roadmap for what to focus on next in your business journey.
