Artist Spotlight: Interview with Sean Pickering

Wed 08th October 2025

As part of our Impact Arts Annual Report 2024-25, we interviewed some members of our creative delivery team to bring you this new series: Artist Spotlight!

Meet Sean Pickering

Hear from one of our artists Sean on drag and cabaret, creative sewing, and the transformative power of art. From murder mysteries to community impact, Sean Pickering shares how performance and visual arts spark confidence and creativity across generations at Impact Arts.

Tell us about yourself. What are your specialisms as an artist and what type of projects do you work on at Impact Arts?

    “After my university degree in theatre studies, I took a side-step into the world of drag and cabaret. I teach a wide range of performance and visual art skills, but I’m definitely a fan of a good sewing project!

    Whether it’s curtains or costumes, seeing the satisfaction on our participants’ faces when they’ve mastered the sewing machine and created something robust with their own two hands is priceless.

    I’ve worked with a wide age range of people at Impact Arts, from adults and parents to teenagers and children.”

    What was your favourite project that you worked on during the year 24-25 – and why?

    “It would be too difficult to pick a favourite but I did love working with our young people from Impactful Starts on their Murder Mystery project.

    We used a variety of painting techniques, creative writing, and sewing skills, and we created miniature universes and characters that branched off in many different directions.”

    What kinds of positive changes have you seen in participants on your projects?

    “Being able to take a participant from the start of a project through to the end and seeing the change in their confidence and mood is incredible! It’s my favourite part of working here.

    One participant I worked with on Make It Your Own spoke about how learning to paint had given her life a purpose, stopped her feeling like the walls were closing in on her, and helped her become more active and social within the community.

    Sometimes you think you’re improving someone’s day maybe 10% or 15% but the reality often ends up being much more profound and impactful.”

    Hear directly from more of our multi-talented artists in the next instalment of Artist Spotlight.

    Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

    Other News You Might Like