Episode 7: Ray Foulk by Claret & Conversation

Claret & Conversation: Voices from the Creative Industry

Jack-of-all-trades Ray Foulk discusses his extraordinary life as the Isle of Wight festival creator, city events planner, art deco gallery curator and author.

Ray grew up on the Isle of Wight. When the island needed funding to build a new swimming pool, he and his brother decided to set up a festival. Now an internationally renowned event with headliners such as Lionel Ritchie and Lewis Capaldi, Ray credits its early success with prosperity the support of Bob Dylan. Catapulted into success, Ray and his brother were brought into the Milton Keynes city planning project. Asked to develop the town’s leisure space, Ray once again went the extra mile and brought Buckminster Fuller, the celebrated architect, on board.

In his late twenties, Ray ‘retired’ to run an antique shop in London. Here, again, Ray quickly became successful, acquiring famous pieces of art deco furniture and curating exhibitions. Ray’s interest in this area spurred him to learn more. He received a degree from the Open University before being offered a place at Cambridge to study architecture. Later in life, Ray worked in schools to raise environmental awareness, which he credits as being his greatest creative contribution.

In this podcast, Katie and Ray discuss the importance of thinking big in the creative industry, and how this ambitious drive can be harnessed for success. They also discuss Ray’s new book, Picasso’s Revenge, and the world of Picasso and 1920s Paris.

Buy Picasso’s Revenge here: https://www.picassosrevenge.com/

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