IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH ANN ENGLISH

 

Visual strategist, TEDx speaker, and creative force Ann English is someone you don’t forget in a hurry. With a career spanning decades in the world of design, display, and visual communications, Ann has that rare ability to see what others can’t and then help them to bring it to life.

From window displays and 3D Design, to her now-signature tools like VisionMapping, VisualDoodles, and The Clarity Quest, Ann has built a business around turning ideas into reality. She works with founders, creatives, and changemakers, and intuitive individuals who are brimming with possibility but unsure how to make sense of it all. The result? More confidence, more clarity, and more momentum.

 

But Ann’s story runs much deeper than her titles. With Hyperphantasia (a vivid imagination she only recently discovered had a name) and a rich family legacy of creativity and resilience, she has walked the road of reinvention many times over. Her love for visual thinking isn’t just a skill; it’s in her DNA, from her great-grandma’s untold dreams to her own journey navigating self-doubt, visibility, and purpose. Ann brings a depth and soul to her work that makes you feel both seen and inspired.

 

She’s not afraid to get creative, and working with her is as joyful as it is transformational. Whether she’s running her immersive Daydream and Doodle Days or helping someone untangle the next chapter of their story with The Clarity Quest IdeasBook, Ann shows up with purpose, playfulness, and a deep belief that your ideas matter - because they do.

 

She’s celebrating 60 years of life, and 12 years in business, and whilst others may be winding down to retirement, Ann is only just getting started.

 

Over to you, Ann…

Let's start with your story. how did your creative journey begin, and what led you to become a visual strategist with a message that's touched so many

 

I opened my TEDx talk, The Clarity Quest, with the words “everything starts with an idea... and an idea can change everything.” If you look back to childhood, you’ll often spot glimmers of who you were always meant to be.

One of my earliest memories is when my twin brother, Ian, and I decided it would be a brilliant idea to colour in the Sooty and Sweep wallpaper... just after my parents had decorated our room!

At school, I was told to “stop daydreaming” and “stop doodling.” I didn’t realise then that this was how I process information – through pictures, imagination, and pen on paper.

I followed what lit me up, taking A Level Art (producing sculptures) and Geography (because I love maps). After a foundation year exploring creative paths, I studied Visual Communications at Cleveland College of Art & Design, specialising in Graphic Design.

That led to a dream career with the “Big 3” - Santa Claus, Willy Wonka, and Micky Mouse! I worked in a world where ideas began with the vision, problems turned into creative solutions, and storytelling transformed places and people. It kept my childlike wonder alive and showed me the magic of imagination and collaboration.

Twelve years ago, I founded Create Intrigue, specialising in the art of visual communication. I discovered my real gift... helping others to see their ideas, not just think them. Becoming a Visual Strategist was a natural evolution, as I developed my own signature services to bridge the gap between imagination and impact, ensuring that no brilliant idea gets lost or left behind.

 

While we were talking, you shared a powerful phrase, "don't let your ideas die inside of you." it feels like a rallying cry. where did it come from, and why does it matter so much right now?

 

Too many valuable ideas are drowned in a sea of negativity, buried in self-doubt, and never see the light of day. That breaks my heart, because ideas are precious gifts.

Imagine if I were a stick of seaside rock... the word running through me would be IDEAS. Bringing them to life has always excited me, from solving problems creatively to sketching concepts to answer creative briefs, I’d always begin by mapping out ideas.

The phrase came from a conversation with my Mam, who told me about my great-grandma, Florence Ord. She owned a sweet shop and a cycle cafe in Hexham. A local businessman loved her toffee so much that he offered to set her up with a factory. Sadly, she passed away before it happened. And her secret toffee recipe, never written down, died with her.

This story struck me deeply. It felt like a message passed through generations, reminding me why my life’s purpose is to ensure no idea gets lost. Ideas are intangible, yet full of potential. Putting pen to paper makes them visible, and speaking them aloud breathes life into them.

Humans have always done this - from cave drawings to storytelling around a fire.

Now, in the age of AI, it feels more important than ever to hold onto that magical connection between our head, heart, and hands when we create.

 

You talk about turning chaos into clarity using your hyperphantasia. For those who have never heard of it, what is it, and how does it shape the way you work with others?

 

I remember trying to plan my return to work before my daughter was even born - pencilling in client appointments, telling myself I'd carry on as I had before. But once she arrived, everything changed. Not only was the schedule I had mapped out completely unworkable, but I realised I didn't actually want to go back to the way things were.

Yes, I had some flexibility in my diary being self-employed, but I had no financial security. If I didn't work, I didn't get paid. That light bulb moment showed me that self-employment isn't the same as freedom - and that just having a business isn't enough if you're the one holding it all up.

It made me deeply aware of how little space society gives women to both earn well and be present with their families. We're told we can have it all - but rarely given the tools or options that actually make that possible.
That's why I believe it's crucial for women to establish income streams that don't rely on trading time for money. True independence is about having choices.

 

If your imagination were a physical place, what would it look like, and who would we find wandering around in it?

 

Welcome to a magical, immersive world that lights up your senses and feeds your soul. Where Disney meets Willy Wonka meets the Eden Project.

You’d wander through a fantasy forest, make wishes with giant dandelion clocks, and stumble upon a secret garden full of fun and laughter.

You’d meet visionary thinkers, creatives, dreamers, and doers gathered around a fire. Sharing stories, sparking ideas, and celebrating one another. It’s a place where you can be your true self, bring your superpower gifts, and together make dreams come true.

 

How do you handle criticism? 

 

At art college, “crits” were a part of the process. You’d present your work, and everyone would share their perspective and interpretation. That taught me to see criticism as insights, not attacks.

As a sensitive soul, harsh words are hard to hear... so I choose curiosity instead of closing down. I look for the disconnection between what I’d created and how it was received. That way, I develop and grow, without squashing my spirit.

 

From TEDx talks to Vision Trees and immersive visual strategy sessions, your work lives at the intersection of art, business, and emotion. What's your process for guiding someone from fog to focus?

 

The first step is simple... get ideas out of your head and onto paper. Because your mind should be a place for generating ideas, not storing them.

I’ve developed the VisionMapping™ method to capture, categorise, and clarify ideas. Then we refine and shape it into either a VisionTree™ to grow the business, or a SignatureSystem™ to build the brand IP.

Everything begins as a VisionMap™ or a VisualDoodle™ because once you can see your idea, you can share it, shape it, and take the next step. That moment of clarity is pure magic!

 

If you were starting your business journey again, what would you do differently?

 

I’d have realised I had a business sooner!

After 25 years working in my dream job creating large-scale Christmas displays, I was made redundant at the age of 47. For two years, I chased my next “forever job”, facing rejection after rejection, until one day I said, “I can’t do this anymore.” My confidence had been eroded.

Then I realised I was looking in the wrong place, because whilst I was applying for roles, I was working on freelance projects. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, I had the answer inside me all along!

That’s when I shifted my focus to building something uniquely mine and discovered the joy of helping others realise their vision.

 

What would you say to the woman who thinks she's too late to start something new?

 

Do you have a dream inside of you... an idea you’ve been saving for “One Day...”?

What if today became “Day One!”

It’s rarely a lack of ideas that holds us back... It’s self-doubt. However, when your dream becomes bigger than your doubts, everything changes. That’s why I created The Clarity Quest™ to provide people with a roadmap to navigate roadblocks from idea to impact. Because your self-talk will determine if your ideas become reality.

 

What does true success look like to you today, and has that changed over time?

 

In the past, success looked like job titles, salaries, and company cars.

Today, it’s alignment. Living a life enriched with creativity, curiosity, and community, guided by my core values of vision, connection, and empowerment.

Success is measured in impact, not income. The reason I did a TEDx Talk and wrote books is to share decades of insight and wisdom, to leave a legacy.

When I spark a moment of clarity, see ideas brought to life, and people living their dreams, that's what lights me up.  

I’ve discovered that when life doesn’t unfold exactly as imagined, it often becomes even more magical than planned.  

 

A Quote you live by?

 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing” – George Bernard Shaw.

 

Do you have a favourite book or podcast recommendation for our readers? 

Nurture Your Zest with Ashleigh King - a podcast for the creative and the curious.

 

Which song would you like us to add to our CEO Radio motivational playlist for you?

 

Future Me by Mega... It’s like a love letter to the person you’re becoming.

 

You get a magic ticket to collaborate with any historical figure, living or dead, on a creative project. Who are you choosing, and what are you making together?

 

My 5th Great-Uncle, John Graham Lough (1798-1879), was a sculptor who created George Stephenson’s Memorial in Newcastle and Lord Collingwood Monument in Tynemouth. I’d love to collaborate with him on a series of sculptures celebrating trailblazing women from our region... stories that deserve to be carved in stone for future generations to see.

 

You've helped so many people see their ideas differently. What's one belief or mindset shift that changed everything for you?

 

Your self-talk shapes everything.

When you become self-aware about your inner dialogue, you notice if you are descending into a negative downward spiral. Then you can flip the script with positive, uplifting, and empowering words.

This golden thread runs through The Clarity Quest. Instead of saying “I’d love to...” and the next word is often “BUT..”, replace it with “BECAUSE...” This simple word switch enables you to tap into your passion and purpose. It moves you from stuck to starting.

 

What do you know for sure?

 

Your intuition never lies... that we are all creative in our own way... and that ideas are valuable.

 

You've talked about legacy, creativity, and clarity, but what's something unexpected you've learned from running your own business that no one warned you about?

 

After being made redundant and setting up my business, I felt incredibly alone. No one tells you how isolating it can feel as a founder.  Then I discovered the power of the business community through networking, events, and building my Clarity Quester tribe. Suddenly, I wasn’t alone, I was surrounded by collaborators, cheerleaders, and business friends. That’s been one of the most unexpected and wonderful gifts of entrepreneurship.

   

What’s the one thing you’re currently obsessed with that has nothing to do with business?  

 

Super Scarved by Scamp & Dude. I’ve started a collection... not just because the designs are gorgeous... It’s because every purchase gives another scarf to a woman starting chemotherapy. Each scarf features a small embroidered “superpower button” that you can press when you need a boost. They feel like wearable hugs and my kind of superhero cape!  

  

If you want to know more about Ann and her work, check out her website, Instagram, or join the waitlist for Her Wealth Era here.