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Interview with Young Artist Eleanor Leonne Bennett
Eleanor Leonne Bennett hails from Manchester and is only sixteen years old. She is already an acclaimed and extremely accomplished young artist. She specialises in photography, for which she has amassed a number of national awards, including being named the CIWEM Young Environmental Photographer of the Year 2013. As if this wasn't enough, her work has been exhibited in galleries and published in magazines globally.
1. Who inspired you to be an artist?
It was always there within me, I don't think I can look to any one person and say that is why I am a creative.
As well as a photographer, I am also a published writer, poet and an award winning mixed media artist.
2. Did your family support your decision?
Yes - I think my more distant relatives probably think it is all somewhat impossible to be successful in my field with so much competition left, right and centre. People as close to me as my Mum know that I burn the candle at both ends and that my drive and focus know no limits. I am extremely competitive in everything at I do, whether it extends from physical strength or the psychological need to adapt quickly.
I've been on fast-forward ever since I started photography - I was entering awards within weeks of starting because it filled the void of what to aim my focus on.
3. If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Probably invisibility - I would do a lot of crime-solving and whistle-blowing.
4. Did your teachers inspire you at school to be creative?
I was home schooled and only went to school for a few weeks when I was 4.
My Mum was my main educator and almost everything we did for educational purposes had to be creative.
She was great at making everything interesting as she had no formal guidance, only the curriculum.
5. Do you think workshops like Street Style Surgery can play an important role?
Very important. It helps to give developing artists a voice.
It is getting harder to find original content in the mainstream media, so the encouragement of young fresh and unique artists is important for all and stretches to include all the forms of entertainment we view and cherish today.
6. If you could give one piece of advice to young people what would it be?
Find your voice and as niche as it may be, pursue it with a vengeance.
As an artist outside of your project and your genre, work with people globally and hold no negativity - be open to others and you will thrive.
7. How did it feel to win the UK National Geographic Kids' Photography contest?
Blessed - National Geographic are such a wonderful society constantly giving youngsters once in a lifetime opportunities that help spark inspired careers adoring art, people and the delicate environment.
8. What projects have you currently got lined up?
Cover art projects for books around the world – at least 70 projects in the next few months, including one book that was purchased by W.H.Smith Travel called ‘Lethal Profit' by Alex Blackmore, due to be released soon.
As well as that, I am being included with multiple works in a touring exhibition starting at the Royal Geographical Society on the 10 April – 3 May 2013.
In the future I will be writing more articles and doing book reviews as well as a few full length books.
9. What are your future ambitions?
To be a very prominent young British artist and to produce a lot more emotive, critically-acclaimed work, speaking for less well known matters of people's lives and especially I would like to explore work on how mental illness affects young people and creatives.
10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time?
Being the curator of sell-out shows in America and having a long waiting list of companies wanting my work to represent them.
Connect with Eleanor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eleanor-Leonne-Bennett-Art/182236515143617
