Frances Derham of The Wensley on why you shouldn’t give up
What’s at the core of what you’re trying to achieve? What’s your key concept? Focussing on the answer to this question has helped Frances Derham in the many chapters of her creative career – from working in a photography studio to producing films and more recently creating the bespoke timber architectural accommodation home The Wensley in the hinterland of Victoria’s surf coast.
Come listen to our conversation where Frances talks about the importance of hard work, noticing the through lines in your journey to get where you are today, and her love for the ocean. Plus, how she made The Wensley into a stand out and successful holiday rental. And why you should never give up!
THIS EPISODE FOCUSES ON
Growing up in the inner city of Melbourne
Frances’s similarities with her grandmother who was a leading expert in children’s art
Feeling pushed towards creative pursuits as a child
Frances’s love of architecture
Studying a Bachelor of Creative Advertising at RMIT
Her experience working as a copy writer
Working as a production assistant in a photography studio
Frances’s project The Wensley in the surf hinterland of Victoria
What being a photography studio producer involves day-to-day
Working on the surfing documentary First Love
Creating the Netflix series Surviving Summer
Frances’s love of the ocean
How formative her part-time jobs have been
How The Wensley was created
The experience of shooting The Wensley
Why less is more
Using Instagram as an advertising space
The biggest lessons she’s learnt while running an AirBnB
A bit about her latest project
FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE
Frances's bespoke holiday accomodation The Wensley
Book via AirBnB
Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Creative Advertising at RMIT
Surfing film First Love
Netflix series Surviving Summer
Actil Hotelier range bedding
The Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk, Tasmanian
Book The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
Book All My Mothers by Joanna Glen
Book Atomic Habits by James Clear
[SIC] Weekly on Substack
Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast with Anaabel Crabb and Leigh Sales
The Waterpeople podcast by Lauren Hill
The Last of Us TV series
The Morning Show TV series
Hacks TV series
Podcast production: Yaga Media