Future Artists Programme – Creative Cosmos with Leila Dear

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Each Future Artists Programme is delivered by a different artist who shares their distinct practice. This makes each programme unique and means that no two programmes are the same. The Future Artists Programme – February 2025 will be led by Leila Dear.

Leila Dear is an artist and educator whose multidisciplinary practice looks at ways of engaging with the structures of the natural world. Often working with geometric techniques from the Islamic tradition alongside elemental phenomena including sound and fluid dynamics, Leila seeks connections between art, science, and traditional crafts.

Leila originally studied traditional art practices specialising in geometric design and developed an appreciation for how botanical and crystalline forms in nature have inspired the decorative arts. Leila’s projects invite the participants to explore the interconnectedness of human expression throughout time and place by tracing patterns, symbols, and forms across different geographic locations and historical eras.

Leila has over 10 years experience facilitating workshops in the UK and internationally. She has collaborated with artists and institutions to offer her insights in geometry and developing traditional skills in visual and symbolic literacy including The Wallace Collection, Kew Gardens, The Eden Project and The King’s Foundation. Leila was awarded the Jerwood Somerset House Residency between 2022-24.

Exhibitions include Light, Colour & the Cosmology of Pigment, Garrison Chapel Gallery (2024); Points of Return, Somerset House (2024); Eleven Twenty Three, St Bartholomew the Great (2023); Triquetra, Herrretics Gallery (2022); Riparian, Proposition Studios, (2021); Terra Nexus, Proposition Studios (2021); Taraxos, Serpentine Gallleries (2021).

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This programme is for motivated individuals with an interest in craft, design and science. You should be happy to contribute to creative discussions and work with others, open to trying new things with a desire to explore your own creative process. We don’t ask for any prior experience, but when applying, it’s important that you can demonstrate an interest in exploring creativity through making.

The Future Artists Programme offers a unique opportunity to explore an Artist’s process, studio practice and day-to-day working world. You will be guided  by artists and creators who have established themselves in the arts world and gain an understanding of how you could pursue a career as an artist. The programme will encourage curiosity, inviting participants to develop new ways of thinking, and amplify their unique artistic voice.

If you’re unsure if this programme is for you, ask yourself these questions: 

• do I enjoy collaboration, experimentation and creating work with others? 
• am I interested in building structures, experimenting with chemistry and creativity?
• am I curious about using nature and natural forms to create art?  
• do I want to experience working within a group to create a performance? 
• would I like to pursue science or design as a career path or study a creative course at college/university?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it’s likely that this is the programme for you – we'd encourage you to apply!

If you answered no to all questions, it’s unlikely that you’d benefit the most from this programme.

Upgrade Yourself is Somerset House's creative skills programme aimed at deepening and widening engagement. Managed by the Inclusive Talent Engagement team, the Upgrade Yourself programme exists to break down barriers and build confidence for underrepresented, aspiring creatives aged 16-30. 

Using the creative community at Somerset House and beyond as a resource, our programmes provide emerging talent access to skills, experiences and progression routes to pursue careers in the creative sector.