Stephanie Carroll

I wasn't expecting “jealous” to be one of the words that stopped me. Then several women independently described the same strangely specific experience. Now I'm wondering what the language within hundreds of Villains stories might reveal.

I thought the studio would come after I'd established myself as an artist. Instead, renting one became part of how I started taking my art — and myself — seriously.

My first art exhibition didn't go entirely to plan. I set myself ridiculous goals, discovered the realities of the space two weeks before the event, and barely anyone came. But TEDxLeith gave Villains something much more valuable than a perfect exhibition.