We’re joined by Emma Vernetti, artist, mother, philanthropist, and long-time supporter of the arts, for a warm, honest, and deeply reflective conversation about creativity, confidence, motherhood, and finding your way back to yourself.Emma shares how her love of trees became the heart of her artistic practice, from the individuality of bark patterns to the hidden shapes and stories people discover in her drawings. She opens up about returning to art later in life after years of raising children, and how the stillness of Covid gave her the space to pick up a pen again and create on a larger scale than ever before.She speaks candidly about the vulnerability of making art, what it means to put a piece of your soul into the world, and why creative work can feel so personal and exposing. Emma also reflects on self-doubt, rejection, and the childhood moments that can quietly shape confidence for years, as well as the bravery it takes to keep going anyway.Alongside her work as an artist, Emma talks about her deep involvement in charitable work, including her support of the Royal Academy and Sunflower Children, and why giving back, especially alongside other women, has become such an important part of her life. She also shares her thoughts on motherhood, the bittersweet reality of children growing up and leaving home, and how this new chapter has created space for travel, art, and fresh purpose.And in a thoughtful closing segment, Emma speaks about AI, social media, and the pressure of modern life, why she finds the digital world both useful and unsettling, and why protecting human connection, creativity, and perspective matters more than ever.00:00 Introduction01:24 Emma’s passion for trees and the individuality of bark02:44 Returning to art after motherhood03:03 Covid, stillness, and starting again creatively04:40 Opening a studio and creating space for other artists05:47 Selling her work and the vulnerability of creativity07:02 Whether her work will always come back to trees08:20 Emotion, process, and what goes into each piece11:02 Supporting the Royal Academy and the arts12:09 Charity work and joining the board of Sunflower Children13:54 How the charity supports children through education16:43 Mother-child fundraising trips to South Africa18:13 Motherhood, identity, and children leaving home20:29 This new chapter of life and making the most of it20:49 What Cash & Rocket means beyond the glamour22:42 Looking ahead to the next rally and the adventure of it24:40 Travel, inspiration, and seeing the world differently through art26:21 Advice to her younger self: be braver32:40 AI, social media, and the pressure of modern life34:49 What’s next for Emma and her studio36:00 Final reflectionsThis episode is a reminder that it is never too late to return to what makes you feel most alive, and that creativity, courage, and compassion often grow stronger with time.Please subscribe, it’s free, and your support means the world to us. xxx Julie#drivenwomen #cashandrocket #womeninart #creativity #motherhood #artistjourney
