About us

Behind the Easel was born out of a shared love of storytelling and a fascination with artists. As Emmy and BAFTA-nominated documentary makers, we've filmed some remarkable people and the worlds they live in (click our links below if you're curious).

As a practising artist myself, I had always wanted to make the kind of films about painting that I longed to watch – films that go beyond technique or traditional interviews. I wanted to get in amongst the turps, the rags and the paint, right in the creative line of fire, recording the real time decisions and processes of some quite brilliant artists. 

So that's what me and Pete created. These aren't tutorials or step-by-step demonstrations, but documentaries that invite you into an artist's world. We want you to feel like you're there, having an insightful chat over a cup of tea, witnessing the doubt, the happy accidents and the flashes of inspiration.

You'll come away with practical ideas, fresh ways of seeing, and the confidence to trust your own instincts to develop your own creative voice.

 (I've already seen my painting improve!)

Nicola