Welcome to "Meet the Team," where we take a closer look at the talented individuals who drive our success. Each member of our team brings a unique blend of skills, creativity, and passion to their work, contributing to our innovative and dynamic environment. From diverse backgrounds and disciplines, our team members share their journeys, insights, and the exciting projects they're currently working on.

First up is Natalie Goodall, an Art Consultant in our drawdeck+ team who works on large-scale commercial projects.

Natalie’s journey from studying textiles to becoming an art consultant is both inspiring and insightful. Initially drawn to Graphic Design, her creative path took a turn during her Art and Design Foundation Diploma, where her passion for surface patterns led her to textiles.

Q: Can you tell us about your journey from studying textiles to becoming an art consultant? (What initially drew you to study textiles, how has that background influenced your career in art consulting?)

A: I chose to study Textiles based on the recommendation of my lecturer when I was studying my Art and Design Foundation Diploma as my practice had naturally gravitated towards experimenting with surface patterns. I had originally started my creative journey wanting to study Graphic Design. My foundation year was probably the most influential and impactful year in allowing me to really develop a passion for Art and Design in learning new processes and being able to freely experiment with different mediums.   

After choosing to study Textiles in Practice at Manchester School of Art I became really interested in redefining traditional Textiles by using unconventional materials and methods. Being an Art Consultant is all about pushing the boundaries and keeping up to date with new processes and materials which I try to reflect in my art strategies and selections.  During my studies I spent so much time experimenting with new ideas and techniques that might not always work out  and I think this ability to accept failure is a completely normal part of the process and that’s what makes Art Consultancy exciting to be part of is that sometimes you can start with an initial concept and it can completely grow and develop into something you were not expecting.

Q: How would you describe your personal artistic style, and how does it influence your work?

A: My personal artistic style is very minimal and tonally muted, my favorite color to work with is white as it allows the focus to primarily be on the technique with no other distractions. Moving into Art Consultancy I’ve learnt to appreciate colors a lot more, I love to bring in gradients of warm tones into my design selections and working within the GCC region offers a huge ray of inspiration from the warm tones from the desert sands and sunsets.  

My art selections always tend to be biased towards textile pieces too. I enjoy working with more traditional textile artists who focus on embroidery and weaving to really showcase the craft of making.

Q: What are some of the most exciting projects your team is working on right now?

A: (Conrad) – We’re working on a very exciting hotel project that really pushes the boundaries of what type of artwork can be used within guestrooms and public areas for a hotel. It’s a large quantity of bespoke artwork that really connects to the location of the hotel and uses unconventional materials to translate these ideas. It’s also given us the opportunity to reach out to lots of new artists to collaborate with.

Q: What key trends do you currently see in the art consulting industry? 

A: A focus on developing a narrative and creating a story, clients do not just want meaningless artwork that looks aesthetically pleasing. There’s a real focus on creating a journey that relates to the hotel's brand and an emphasis on the artworks becoming part of the experience. A lot more time is being spent in developing artworks and an interest in experimenting with new materials. 

There is also an increase in creating interactive artworks that showcase movement in experimenting with different mediums as well as the use of digital artwork and the use of AI.

Hotels are also wanting to take traditional concepts and techniques that showcase the UAEs heritage to combine these with contemporary elements.

Q: Any artists or art events you’ve been to recently that caught your eye & why?

A: Recently visited the Green Art Gallery exhibition ‘Reverberations: Textile as Echo’ which references the rich and diverse history and practice of textile arts across South and West Asia and North Africa. There was a real variety of traditional dyeing and weaving techniques and materials.

‘Carpets of Eden,’ at Leila Haller Gallery also showcased one of my new favorite artworks created by Antonio Santin. His artwork ‘Stravangaza’ is a hyper-realistic, dramatic painting that depicts ornamental tapestries. It’s an artwork that you could observe for a long time in being mesmerized by the skill of the painting.

Q: What are some common misconceptions people have about art consulting? Or what is the hardest part of art consulting?

A: Working within the GCC region means working in a very fast-paced environment, buildings are constructed in very tight timelines which really means you have to plan what types of materials and processes can be used within the art selections, some art practices naturally take a long time from the making stages. A lot of people underestimate the time behind the crafts of artworks and as an art consultant it’s our role to really understand the process and ensure the production of artworks matches the required timelines. For example, ceramic artwork has to undergo a lengthy process of firing and is at high risk of cracking during this stage, all these factors need to be considered beforehand. 

I think people also think of Art only in galleries and for it not to be accessible to everyone, when there’s so many different interpretations of art and how it can be used at a range of different budgets.

Q: How would you describe the Art & Design industry in the UAE?

A: Always growing and becoming bigger specifically within the hospitality industry. The UAE hosts multiple conventions and exhibitions throughout the year which allows you to continue meeting new artists and suppliers who are continuously showcasing new concepts and ideas. 

Dubai also has area’s like Alserkal which has the highest concentration of art galleries in the region; constantly exhibiting new emerging and established artists works, experimenting with new and existing mediums. The UAE has a real appreciation for art and design.