For the past 15 years, I have navigated the exciting yet often solitary world of freelance photography. While the freedom of self-employment has always been a cherished aspect of my career, there have been moments when I’ve found myself quietly envious of my corporate friends and their tales of ‘offsite team building sessions.’ These pangs of longing tend to surface during life’s inevitable curveballs, when the desire for camaraderie becomes particularly acute.
I suspect that many self-employed creatives can relate to this yearning. We are deeply passionate about our craft, but this passion often comes at the cost of loneliness.
Over the years, I’ve rented various studio spaces in buildings bustling with fellow solo creatives. While some interactions did occur, none of these workplaces managed to alleviate the pervasive sense of isolation that often accompanies freelancing. That all changed when I set foot in Kindred Studios in 2018—a place that felt undeniably different from the very beginning.
Kindred Studios: A Different Approach
Kindred Studios had recently relocated to a charming old Victorian school building in Queens Park, West London, marking its second iteration. On my first day, the sound of a ringing school bell in the hallway caught my attention. I soon discovered that it was an invitation for all of us to gather in the café for lunch, encouraging us to sit with new faces whenever possible. In essence, we were given permission to mingle—an uncommon gesture in bustling London.
As time passed, the community at Kindred continued to flourish. A communal vegetable garden emerged, live music filled the air on summer evenings around the fire pit, and joyous celebrations marked the holiday season. We were encouraged to leave our studio doors open, inviting people to drop by and say hello. These initiatives, among others, were all designed to unite us.
While this level of community engagement might seem overly prescriptive to some, most of us embraced it wholeheartedly. Personally, I felt like I was part of something bigger, despite the fact that we were all pursuing our own artistic endeavors.
During one lunchtime conversation, a painter named Diana Milner shared with me that she felt she had discovered utopia late in life, within the walls of Kindred Studios. She couldn’t believe her good fortune, having to pinch herself to make sure it wasn’t all a dream.
Angelique Smith: The Visionary Behind Kindred Studios
Kindred Studios was founded by two West London artists, and I had the privilege of sitting down with one of them, Angelique Smith (pictured opposite), the current CEO. She shared with me the remarkable transformations that had occurred within the building, its residents, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Eight years ago, Angelique and her co-founder were seeking studio space for their own artistic practices. They stumbled upon a complex of rooms underneath the Westway in Ladbroke Grove—a site where they ultimately found their studios. With the word spread among their artist network, the rooms filled up quickly, and the seeds of a community were sown.
After a year and a half, Angelique made the bold decision to put her own artistic pursuits on hold to devote herself fully to this nascent project.
Returning to the theme of isolation often experienced by freelance creatives, Angelique observed that enabling people to interact and build relationships within the building had a profound, unintended effect: a form of healing. She saw this as a remedy for the “atomization of modern life,” a phenomenon linked to rising mental health issues and crime rates.
A Model for Healing and Revitalization
Prioritizing community over everything else runs counter to the prevailing culture, but Angelique’s years of observation have revealed the transformative power of this approach. “You see it in yourself first, in your ways of relating to others. Then you see it in others and the way they relate to each other, and it echoes outward from there. … I’d love to see it replicated in other places that need healing too.”
Interestingly, the project maintains a unique relationship with property developers who own the buildings. While their interests may appear contradictory on the surface, there is a symbiotic exchange that benefits both parties.
Property developers often follow in the footsteps of artists, seeking out neighborhoods that artists have revitalized. This phenomenon occurred in Shoreditch twenty years ago and more recently in Peckham.
Angelique explained that artist communities serve as “culture starters.” Developers recognize this, which partly explains why they are now situated in Shepherd’s Bush. “Art has the potential to bring about active change in communities and society,” she noted.
The dream is for Kindred Studios to find a permanent home. Whether it remains in Shepherd’s Bush Market, its current location, or moves elsewhere in pursuit of further regeneration, one thing is certain: the Kindred spirit will continue to thrive and grow, fostering creativity and connection in a world that sometimes forgets the importance of community.
In the heart of bustling London, Kindred Studios stands as a testament to the enduring power of creativity and togetherness. It reminds us that, even in the most solitary pursuits, we are never truly alone when we find our kindred spirits.
TEXT: Pete Bartlett
IMAGES: Pete Bartlett
