What does dedication mean to you? In your work, as well as in your personal life? 

I feel like dedication is often framed as a choice. However being brought up by my mother, in an African single-parent household, dedication was not an option. It was compulsory. Like wearing your school uniform. My upbringing depicts dedication as a necessary tool, which we all have in our starter kits to help achieve a full life. 

A good friend of mine, photographer Xavier Scott Marshall, once told me “the Art world isn’t a race, it’s a marathon for people like us”. So I would say it’s not been dedication that’s provided me a fuller life, honestly, I think it’s patience.

Compulsory dedication and expectation have definitely made me feel needlessly anxious at times in my life. Whereas patience has been far more understanding when the dedication hasn’t shown results in my work, or in my personal life. 

It’s patience that’s kept me whole through the tougher times and full through the happiest times. 

What’s your favourite piece of the outfit and why?

Raw relaxed 12oz jeans, why you ask? Timeless, tactful, tough. They do exactly what it says on the tin. 

What is one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without?

Getting up and watching the morning news.

It’s probably the only place where I’m consuming accountable information (for the most part) not shaped by my own, sometimes insular, over-curated algorithm. 

What’s the most essential part of a great curation of art? 

Storytelling. Period. Point blank. 

Remember, some still view art as the intellectual property of the rich. But as a curator I aim to dispel this misconception. Curatorial success to me is judged by how well you can frame, stage and set up a scenario where the viewer is so disarmed by the experience that they feel something, from something someone else created.

What does dedication mean to you? In your work, as well as in your personal life?

Dedication to me is stay true to something even on days or moments when it feels hard. When you have a purpose/calling and you choose to stay true to it and work at it especially on the difficult days even if it is a small movement.

What’s the most important part of an outfit to you?

 For me shoes are the most important part of an outfit. Good footwear ties the whole look together. I am also a lover of details, little accents of magic that elevate an outfit. 

What’s your favorite piece of the outfit and why?

My favourite piece is the trousers. The shape and movement fit my style perfectly I also like the accent of the silk scarf. 

What is one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without?

Each morning I try to spend moments before looking at the phone or opening my laptop to pray, have quiet moments and read. This sets up my day and gives me a good start. I also like to be active daily, whether it is the gym, swimming or walking it feels good to move. 

What’s the most essential part of a great image?

There are so many elements to me that come together to make a great image. As a photographer of course I would say great lighting. However the thing I love the most is personality. When I am able to bring out someone’s mood or personality in an image that is the most important  thing for me. It’s a conversation between myself and the subject which is then a conversation interpreted by the viewer.

What does dedication mean to you? In your work, as well as in your personal life?

Dedication for me is all about the self - taking care of your body and mind so you can perform and create your best work. It’s tough and takes disciplined effort, that’s exactly why it’s so important.

What’s the most important part of an outfit to you?

The most important part of an outfit for me is the shoes – they can make or break it. Sneakers with a suit ruin the vibe (sorry not sorry!) but loafers with jeans and a t-shirt elevates the whole look.

What’s your favorite piece of the outfit and why?

The fit is key to making an outfit look good. I think it also depends on the person wearing it and how they carry themself.

What's one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without?

One thing in my everyday routine that I can’t live without is a shower and brushing my teeth. I need to feel good and that’s crucial for me.

What’s the most essential part of a great track?

The most essential part of a great track is the emotion – we run on feelings so often and music is deeply spiritual. It can carry you through hard times like a breakup, or lift your spirit before a night out.

What does dedication mean to you? In your work, as well as in your personal life?

To me dedication is just trying to be better today than you were yesterday. To be dedicated you have to be consistent but sometimes in that consistency you can lose sight of what the goal is. So for me just trying to better myself every day at whatever i'm doing really is the main goal.

What’s the most important part of an outfit to you?

I don't really have a consistent favourite. For me it changes depending on what I'm wearing on the day. I usually have one item that I build my whole outfit around but that could be anything from jackets, to trousers to shoes. 

What’s your favorite piece of the outfit and why?

For me it depends on the outfit, usually it's either a jacket or shoes. However, for me every outfit has a different focal point and then I try to compliment that part with other elements of the outfit. I find the one item that I really feel like wearing and then just style it with whatever works.

What is one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without?

I can't live without listening to music. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing there is music playing either in some headphones or through a speaker. Music enhances my day and without it, genuinely life is more dull.

What’s the most essential part of a great melody?

It has to be memorable. If people can't sing back the melody of your song then it's not truly embedded in them. I want my music to be part of people's lives, to make their high even better and to bring healing through their pain. So I have to make music that sticks

What does dedication mean to you? In your work, as well as in your personal life?

I believe dedication is about commitment and not fearing failure. I’m lucky enough to consider my work a passion, and so for me dedication towards my work fortunately comes easy. I’ve always enjoyed researching, exploring ideas and seeing how they progress, whether they’ve turned out a success or failed horribly. Dedication is not getting one thing right and saying, ok that’s me done now, or a project not going how you expected it and then giving up after, it’s about learning, progressing and never losing steam. 

What’s the most important part of an outfit to you?

I think for me, it all starts with the trousers. They are the central part to an outfit, tying in the proportions from the top half to the bottom, I’m not saying that the trousers need to be the central focus point of an outfit but the fit and silhouette for me, is very important, you want to be seen wearing them and not the trousers wearing you.    

It’s the hardest part of an outfit to get right, everyone’s body is different and there isn’t one trouser shape that will look the same on everyone. When done right they are the most flattering part of the outfit and with the right pair it doesn’t matter if the rest of the outfit is simple or heavily styled, the result will always be great.

What’s your favourite piece of the outfit and why?

The Deon Check shirt. Personally with my own style I always like to lean more towards smart than casual and a nice shirt is a great way of doing that, for a more formal look I would lean towards a striped shirt but keeping an outfit casual and easy, a check shirt is what I will look to. 

What is one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without?

It’s first thing in the morning when I make my lunch for the day. I often find myself thinking about work and all the life admin that needs doing, but preparing food and cooking really helps me to concentrate on that one task, blocking everything else out. I think because of this I find it quite meditative and get the most from it when I arrive home after work.

What’s the most essential part of great styling?

Being able to know when you’ve done enough. I think that great styling doesn’t need to be complicated and have lots going off, don’t get me wrong there’s always a time and a place for that and it’s incredible when done right but I think being able to edit your work is very hard and very important. It’s being able to look at something and being able to take away part that are fussy or not necessary, keeping track on the relevant to the situation and not thinking what’s going to get you lots of likes on social media

What does dedication mean to you, in your work as well as in your personal life?

 Dedication, for me, is about having a long-term view. Beyond the obvious things like consistency, what I’ve come to understand more as I’ve got older is the importance of perspective, being able to see something over time rather than just in the moment.

It’s also about doing things when no one’s looking. Paying attention to detail, even when it might go unnoticed, and having a sense of honesty with yourself in the process.

In my work, dedication is about being honest. Being open enough to step back, see the bigger picture, and recognise when something isn’t working or when you might be wrong. That honesty is what allows the work to evolve.

In my personal life, dedication has become more about sacrifice, especially since becoming a father. But a healthy kind of sacrifice, not completely giving things up or overextending yourself, but understanding timing. Knowing what to prioritise, what to pause, and when to show up fully for the people around you.

What’s the most important part of an outfit to you? 

The most important part of an outfit isn’t even the thing you’re wearing. I think it’s being prepared and knowing where you’re going, and where you might end up.

Especially in London, with the weather or moving between work and different events, you have to think across a few scenarios. I think that awareness and preparation is probably the most important part of any outfit. 

What’s your favourite piece of an outfit and why? 

In general, I love an overcoat, a statement overcoat.

I feel like when things get a bit chaotic and you haven’t had time to really figure out what you want to wear, wrapping yourself in a great coat gives you confidence. It can pull everything together, hide a lot, and you can still look put together without overthinking it.

What is one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without? 

One thing I can’t live without is a spritz or a roll-on oil of fragrance. I’m an absolute fragrance nerd.

I’m honestly the type of person who’ll wear fragrance for a Zoom call :) But it’s more than that, it’s a moment for me, especially in the morning. No matter what mood I’m in or what’s going on, smelling something I love always puts me in a better place.

I think it’s because scent is so closely tied to memory, it just has a way of grounding you and shifting your mood instantly.

What’s the most essential part of a great film production?

 I’ll answer this more from a producer’s perspective first.

For me, it starts with being overly prepared. That means knowing your client, your shoot, your location, and your outcomes. 

Films are nothing without pre-production, and when that’s done properly, it allows everything else to open up. 

Once you’re on set, you can actually enjoy the creative side, be playful, and respond to things in the moment because the foundations are solid.

Now the director part - The second part is respect and team chemistry. It’s something I’ve really shaped into my own way of working. 

Early on, I saw a lot of ego on sets, especially from some photographers, and it honestly put me off filmmaking for a while. It felt like if that was the blueprint, it wasn’t something I wanted to be part of. Respect is a big one. Treating everyone equally, no matter how junior or senior they are. You’re nothing without your team, and on a film set that team can be huge.

Chemistry is just as important. It’s about how you speak to people, how you make them feel seen and heard. When everyone feels aligned and respected, you can get incredible results, even when the shoot itself is challenging.

What does dedication mean to you? In your work, as well as in your personal life?

Just making sure you always turn up. Whether things are good or bad always get up, turn up and try your best. That’s all you can do. My personal life is just about trying to be as present and grateful as possible. I don’t find it easy but I’m trying! I’m on Lonsdale Road I’m living the dream! 

What’s the most important part of an outfit to you?

I think shoes are the most important part of the outfit for me. I feel like you can ruin a good outfit with a bad choice of trainers or shoes and then the way you do your laces that’s a massive factor for me, I sound mad but the laces need to be a certain way! 

What’s your favorite piece of the outfit and why?

I loved the jeans, I’ve always struggled with trousers but these just fit like a glove. I was buzzing! 

What is one thing in your everyday routine you can’t live without?

Coffee, I’m up at two most mornings so if ain’t got a coffee coreee it’s long old day. Stay far, far away.

What’s the most essential part of a great day in London?

I think London in the sun is the most essential part of a great day, in this city anyway. Everyone’s just a lot happier. It’s one of the best places to be in the world when the suns out. Everyone’s just absolutely flying, whatever way you interpret that!