“Studying at University of Staffordshire is a transformational process – it will definitely take you places,” says Ed Catley.
Ed didn’t just want to make art; he wanted to understand how to make art happen. While he was already established as a practitioner, he chose the MA Design Management at the Stoke campus to sharpen his professional edge.
The turning point came during a unit focused on exhibition planning. It was here that Ed moved beyond the canvas to master the “business” of the arts – learning to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.
“I use the planning devices I was taught at Staffs all the time,” Ed recalls. “Learning to focus on objectives and deliverables resulted in a much more accomplished way of working in the studio, the gallery, and the museum. It gave me the lens of design management and enterprise.”
Ed’s “big break” into the academic world came through a collaboration with his mentor, Dr. David Hands. Together, they co-authored a paper on Eco-Design for the 2008 Cultural Olympiad, published by Cumulus. This early success gave Ed the “match fitness” and credibility needed to navigate the international art scene.
Since graduating in 2011, Ed has embraced a “say YES” philosophy. This confidence has seen his work travel from America and Europe to the Middle East and the Far East. His portraits and prints are now housed in prestigious permanent collections, including the British Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and the United Kingdom’s National Art Collection.
“To be successful in the art world, you have to live it,” he says. “It can seem like a mission to Mars – but you still have to try. Never look back, never give up.”
Today, Ed is the driving force behind the ‘Printing in…’ Projects – a series of exhibitions including ‘Printing in Swiss’ and ‘Printing in Dutch’ that have been received by tens of thousands of visitors. Whether he is curating international shows or teaching the next generation of artists at Shrewsbury College, the foundation laid at Staffs remains his blueprint for success.
With a career that spans continents and prestigious journals like Printmaking Today, Ed continues to strive for “something more,” proving that with the right management skills, an artist’s vision knows no bounds.
“Be excited about your own work! If you’re not enthused by what you’re working on, no one else will be. Stay positive, be optimistic, and take care of business.”
Original Feature: University of Staffordshire
Course studied
MA Design Management
“Be excited about your own work! If you’re not enthused by what you’re working on, no one else will be. Stay positive, be optimistic, and take care of business.”
