Meet Antonia Miller

We were lucky to catch up with Antonia Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Antonia , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

In my 45 years, the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that the greatest risks often bring the greatest rewards. If something scares you, go for it!

I made a promise to myself that, when I’m sitting in that rocking chair one day, I don’t want to be saying, “Oh, I wish I’d done that!” This commitment has driven me to pursue my desire to create and try new things. Life is about experiences, and you never know what one step forward might lead to—a new skill, an exciting opportunity, or perhaps meeting a new friend or fellow creative trying to find their way, too. These connections can lead to collaboration and fill your life with good people and meaningful accomplishments.

After earning a place at one of London’s most renowned art colleges, Central St Martins, I graduated with a Fine Art degree but soon took a detour into television production. My years as a TV producer brought many happy memories and opportunities, especially in comedy and children’s programming. I achieved much of what I’d dreamed of, and felt a creative satisfaction for a time. But as the industry evolved, my work increasingly brought stress instead of joy, and I no longer found the same purpose or fulfilment. If the joy was gone, I thought, why let it fill my days? I needed to change course.

Then, like everyone, the pandemic put my life on hold, but it also gave me a chance to pause, reflect, and rediscover the things that brought me peace. After 18 years, I picked up my pens and paintbrushes again, telling myself to take the pressure off and simply create. I began painting purely for the joy of it, exploring what I loved without expectation. Soon, my work filled the room, and friends on Zoom started to notice; many of them didn’t even know I had studied art. With their encouragement, I began to feel a glimmer of possibility.

After sharing my work with friends who expressed interest in purchasing it, I took a leap and set myself a challenge: after the pandemic, I would hold an exhibition in London. In late November 2023, that goal became reality with my first pop-up solo show, “Found Moments,” held just a stone’s throw from the prestigious Goldsmiths. For a week, I exhibited my work, selling at least two pieces each day. The experience validated that anything is possible. Hearing how joyful my work made people feel was incredibly rewarding and made me realize that creating art, spreading joy, was my true purpose.

Since my debut in London, I’ve moved to Manchester to focus on a career in the arts, creating new pieces and working to make art my primary income. It’s still early days, but I’ve already taken new steps: I now volunteer at a contemporary gallery and an arts charity, and after just six months, I organized another pop-up exhibition from scratch in the heart of Manchester’s city centre. This two-month exhibition included workshops, and I’m now eagerly looking forward to the next challenge.

At 45, starting over in a new city and career is undeniably scary—but also incredibly exciting. And when someone attends your exhibition or workshop and tells you that your work brought them happiness, you realize that the risk was worth it. That fear has brought me the greatest reward of my life. I look forward to whatever “scary” challenge is next and to the day I’ll look back on these accomplishments with a smile in my rocking chair. 😊

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I spent just under 20 years as a TV producer, and during that time, I also cared for my elderly parents. Now, in this new chapter of my life, without those previous responsibilities, I feel my parents’ influence with me as I start this new path as an artist.

I now run workshops, teach, and take on commissions. What makes this time in my life so special is that I’m pursuing something I believe truly makes a difference and brings a deep sense of fulfilment. My goal is for my work to reach people in a way that helps them set aside their troubles for a moment, brings a smile, and, in the case of my workshops, provides a creative sanctuary. I want attendees to feel they have the freedom to play and reconnect with their inner child.

So many adults who attend my classes have experienced judgment in the past or have an inner critic, an internal bully that makes them feel they’re “not creative.” I defy that, as every mark making holds a part of that individual and it will always hold something unique and beautiful.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One of the happiest times of my life was during the foundation course I took before my degree. It was an incredibly vibrant and creatively diverse time. We explored every aspect of art—sculpture, photography, fashion, and even dedicated a week to life drawing. This year-long period of exploration was designed to guide us toward a specific course and degree path, and it was highly motivating. It offered a rich opportunity to delve deeply into my creative passions and reaffirmed the importance of always exploring, trying new things, and continuing to learn.

My advice to those early in their journey: remember that you’re never too old to try something new, and each experience can open up new possibilities.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Both my parents had me when they were middle-aged—a common occurrence now, but quite rare back then. Because they had me later in life, I think they truly appreciated my arrival, and their maturity and perspective helped shape my belief that it’s never too late to pursue what you love. They supported my passions wholeheartedly. My father, a lover of comedies, would often watch TV and remark, “You could do that!” At age four, I painted my very first piece in nursery—a clown in love with a flower. My mother loved it so much that she hung it on our kitchen wall, turning that space into my personal gallery for many years.
They encouraged and supported me, always reminding me that life is for living and to make the most of it. My mother often said, “If it’s meant to be, it’ll be,” and that has been a guiding truth in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: TBC – I am in the process of building one
• Instagram: tonimillerpaints

Image Credits

Personal images