Snowden Flood is an acclaimed artist, designer and is in her last year of training to be a psychotherapist/counsellor. Originally from the UK, she studied fine art in Hull, working collaboratively with the local ship building industry, and then received a full scholarship to study her MFA in sculpture at Parsons in NYC. While working and exhibiting as a studio artist she was employed by the Brooklyn Museum design department. She later worked as a textile specialist, for Peter Marino Architects which involved travelling to work with weavers, printers, embroiderers - makers and manufacturers worldwide, to produce work for his projects. This developed her passion for designing and manufacturing high quality bespoke products.
On returning home to London to settle permanently in 2000, Snowden developed a range of embroideries that were stocked for many years by Liberty and also worked with specialist bone china makers in Stoke on Trent to create award winning ranges of stylish tableware. Until 2019, she ran a shop in London's Oxo Tower - winning a Time Out Award in 2018 for Best Loved Local shop in the Southbank. Snowden's design ethos has always been to work closely with the makers of her products and there is always a strong emphasis on quality.
Please tell us a bit more about your career
I’m an artist and also in my last year of training to be a psychotherapist/counsellor. Each compliments the other - both are ways of connecting with others and also with myself in a more accepting way. I was twice expelled from school, with no qualifications (undiagnosed ADHD). I temped and worked at Mount Pleasant post office and sold my own designed/handmade shirts at London markets on weekends. I finally went to art college aged about 25/26, before gaining my Masters in NYC and exhibiting as an artist there. I then worked at Brooklyn Museum, then for Peter Marino in architecture and interiors in NYC as a designer and textile specialist. Circuitous!
Things changed when suddenly/unexpectedly I became a single parent. I knew my freelance NYC job would be impossible as a sole parent, so I started my own business - designing and manufacturing fine quality, UK made, gifts and souvenirs. These I sold direct and as commissions for museums like the Tate, while also running my gallery in Oxo Tower. It was only when my son was safely grown and about to leave for uni, I realised that I was burned out. So, I have been pressing pause - and returning to studio based art combined with study. I feel so fortunate that my paintings are getting a good response and that I’ve been able to show them in a few galleries.
I’m happy and proud with all I’ve packed into my life so far. I am appreciative of my ability to trust my instinct and my love of learning, and to allow myself to sometimes go in a completely different direction from the one that ‘makes sense’ to others. I’m in my 50’s but know that in my 90's I’ll still be getting excited about new ideas and things to learn and be passionate about.
How has being Neurodivergent shaped the direction of your career?
My ADHD has made me want to go out exploring the world - to study in NY, to keep learning new things, connecting to people all over the place, to constantly push myself in new creative directions and towards new challenges. To ignore the well trodden path and find my own - doing things the way it feels best to me.
In the future, I want my studio art practice to run alongside my counselling practice, each feeding into the other. I want to have regular (hyper)focused studio time and (tricky at the moment while studying) to exhibit and sell my work. I only learned that I am Neurodivergent because of a therapist and this caused me to view my life so, so differently - with compassion and appreciation for what I’ve achieved, rather than shame for what I didn't. So I feel incredibly passionate about the role of ND aware therapists and how important and needed they are. My son is Autistic and when he needed a counsellor, he wanted - and got - an Autistic counsellor, and it helped him because they ‘got’ him.
Do you feel that your job/industry is a good fit for an ND woman?
Absolutely! In my experience a great many people working in the arts of various types are either people who think creatively - quite differently from many others, or are Neurodivergent or both. As for being a counsellor, I feel like most of the ND women I know have huge empathy, kindness and insight. In my current training, I often feel that my ADHD enables me to think and feel creatively and to make unique and true connections with people and see the patterns beneath what they tell me - which is extremely helpful.
What advice would you give to another Neurodivergent woman navigating their way through life?
To learn to trust yourself and your instincts about what is right for you, regardless of whether it's completely different from everyone you know. Have a coach, a community, a tribe, a therapist - someone you connect with that helps you find the best way to move forward in the world - with increasing belief & trust in yourself. Find ways to recognise any shame that you've internalised from being 'different' in order that you can leave them behind in the dust. Thinking differently is our strength and our power!