Artist Spotlight Series

Meet David Fedele, an award winning filmmaker, photographer, journalist, composer, and storyteller whose work spans multiple artistic and social disciplines. Known for his deep focus on human rights, migration, and environmental issues, David has traveled the world to document powerful stories that are often left untold. One of his most recent works, This Jungo Life, is Fedele's third in a trilogy of films exploring issues related to refugees, asylum seekers and migration between the African and European continents. This collaboration between David and the refugees captures the resilience and struggles of these individuals, offering an authentic and unique glimpse into their daily lives.

Beyond filmmaking, David is also a talented musician. His solo piano compositions reflect the same sensitivity and emotional depth found in his films. His latest EP, Towards the Light, set to release on September 19th, includes five instrumental tracks that evoke powerful emotions through minimalist compositions. You can explore his music on Bandcamp (https://davidfedele.bandcamp.com) or visit the Music page on his website.

For those interested in his extensive portfolio of films and photography, click on the link below to visit his website which offers a deep dive into his projects and personal journey as an artist and advocate. His work continues to bridge the gap between art and activism, using storytelling to illuminate global issues that are often overlooked, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the human experience in the face of adversity. Through his films, photography, and music, David explores themes of environmental issues, migration, and resilience, presenting these complex narratives with authenticity and emotional depth.

If you would like to learn more about David, you can visit his website below.

Mark Stoddart, a designer and artist based in Ayrshire, Scotland, creates unique bronze sculptures, including highly collectible glass-topped coffee and dining tables with bronze bases shaped like wild animals such as hippos, tigers, and elephants. His work also includes a table inspired by the Apollo Lunar Module, owned by Buzz Aldrin. Stoddart's pieces are limited editions. Each piece is signed, numbered, and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Mark Stoddart is deeply committed to supporting those with dyslexia, a cause close to his heart. He has actively contributed to raising awareness and funds for dyslexia-related charities. Additionally, Mark's philanthropy extends internationally; he funded the construction of two schools. One is located in Bali, Indonesia, and the other in Kenya, Africa. Both of these schools provide education and opportunities for local children. His efforts reflect his dedication to making a positive impact through both his art and charitable endeavors.

Mark Stoddart's book Making a Mark! intertwines his journey as a world-renowned sculptor with an exploration of neurodiversity, particularly dyslexia. Through engaging stories and powerful analogies, Stoddart uses his experiences and creative process to illustrate how learning, much like art, can be an adventurous and creative journey. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance and a growth mindset, offering readers insights into the challenges and triumphs of neurodiverse individuals while showcasing the potential for creativity and growth in every learner.

Mark remains as dynamic and committed as ever, juggling a busy schedule that reflects both his artistic endeavors and philanthropic passions. He just recently visited the Scottish Parliament to attend a cross-party meeting aimed at making Scotland a Dyslexia-Friendly Country, furthering his advocacy for neurodiversity. Simultaneously, he’s showcasing two of his bronze sculptures at Powderhall Bronze Editions Art Gallery, with 100% of the proceeds directed toward completing the second floor of Rare Gem Talent School in Kenya. In November, Mark plans to visit the school he supports in Bali, as well as meet with the CEO of a company in Jakarta to advance a project that will benefit 10,000 students in Indonesia. He is also considering a trip to India to collaborate with a friend from Dublin on building a neurodiverse school. Meanwhile, his creative work continues with a meeting at Hamilton and Inches to discuss the creation of small silver hippo sculptures. For the past year, Mark has been working on a Sculpture for Sir Jackie Stewart's charity Race Against Dementia. Sir Jackie’s Charity is using advanced F1 techniques to accelerate research focused on the prevention and cure of neurological disorders like dementia. By applying the precision and innovation from the world of Formula 1, the charity aims to drive breakthroughs in treatment and improve lives affected by these conditions. Through it all, Mark balances his artistic achievements with his mission to make a positive global impact.

If you would like to learn more about Mark, you can visit his website below.

Bobbi Bicker is a Multi Dimensional Artist originally from Albania, residing in London. Her passion for Art started at a very young age while living under one of the harshest communist regimes, where everything seemed grey, without freedom of speech or knowledge of the world outside of Albania. Art opened up a whole new world of discovery and imagination. She uses her artistic expressions to convey those emotions and bring happiness to people just like she feels when she creates those works, no matter what medium. She studied Art & Textile Design in Tirana. In 1998 she left her homeland and embarked on her journey of discovery and traveled the world for the next 26 years. Through her travels and having lived in many countries along the way, her work is inspired by her life experiences, her travels and stories from people she meets and events that impact society. Bobbi uses her works tell stories, uplift people and share her passion with those around her. Her work is bright and colourful. She has held many exhibitions around the world throughout her career and created many artworks for private collectors. She works with many brands, has been a guest judge in different exhibitions and runs Workshop and Masterclasses around the Europe. Community building, helping others and education are very important and big part of what she does. She loves to share her knowledge with others through live art tutorials for the last 10 years to inspire people to get creative, any form of Art is great for mental health and the best therapy that feeds our soul. Anyone can be creative all you need is imagination. In the beginning of 2021 she embarked on the journey of social audio and was invited by the Twitter team (now X ) to host Twitter Spaces. Her aim was to meet other Artists to share experiences, support, inspire one another and learn about Web3 & blockchain. In December 2021 she launched Artists On Twitter Community, now rebranded to Artists On The Chain since renamed to X, currently the largest Artists Community on X with 153K members. Every Saturday Bobbi & her friend, Poet @Blockmuse co/host a community space where Artists from around the world gather for authentic Art conversations, highlighting artists, share stories, music, poetry and make genuine connections. Her mission is to give voice to the voiceless and provide a big happy table where everyone is invited to sit no matter of what background they are from. She is looking forward to her Web3 journey putting her artworks on the blockchain in digital form as NFTs to showcase her broad range of artworks & styles, you can find her works on foundation, makers place and objkt ( her 1st work on objkt minted recently was sold out. ) If you are an artist, art lover or looking for inspiration join #ArtistsOnTheChain Community on X We look forward to welcoming you.

Ricky O’Donnell Ricky O’Donnell is a visionary leader in animation, media, and technology, with a career spanning over two decades. At just 10 years old, Ricky’s passion for storytelling sparked a relentless pursuit of animation. Nights were spent sketching characters under his bed sheets, painting his walls with ideas, and crafting short films. This drive led him to graduate from the prestigious NCCA at Bournemouth in 2001 and launch RJDM, his award-winning animation and digital media company. RJDM quickly gained acclaim, with Ricky directing iconic projects such as the Disneyland Kinect cinematics for Finding Nemo, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as the music video Give a Little Love by Sir Tom Jones. Under his leadership, RJDM grew into a creative powerhouse, blending artistry with cutting-edge technology to produce animations, apps, and branded content for global clients. At 28, Ricky made a bold decision to transform RJDM’s culture. Rejecting late nights and unmanageable deadlines, he fostered a healthier work-life balance for his team. His mantra—time is the most valuable currency—redefined the company’s priorities, ensuring quality of life for his team without compromising on creative excellence. By 2010, RJDM had merged with OakLeaf Consultancy, expanding into a versatile ecosystem of eight services. Ricky’s focus shifted to steady growth, mentoring his team, and inspiring the next generation of creatives and leaders. Over the last two decades, he has shared his insights at universities, businesses, and industry events, encouraging future talent to embrace curiosity and innovation. In 2017, Ricky appointed an MD to lead day-to-day operations, while he embraced his role as CEO, shaping RJDM’s future. That same year, he faced a life-changing diagnosis of testicular cancer. Thanks to the decisions he’d made a decade earlier, Ricky had no regrets—only a renewed focus on family, creativity, and purpose. When COVID-19 reshaped the world, RJDM adapted. The studio transitioned to remote working, demonstrating how efficiency and balance could thrive in a digital-first environment. Ricky recognized the opportunity to optimize operations further by leveraging AI tools to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. The decision to scale down the physical studio space marked the start of a new chapter, focused on flexibility, sustainability, and innovation. It was during this time, as the metaverse and online communities flourished, that inspiration for the NFTJungle was born. In 2021, Ricky stepped into the Web3 space, establishing himself as a trailblazer with the creation of NFTLions and NFTJungle. These groundbreaking projects, blending art and blockchain technology, were featured in a six-part Amazon Prime series, earning Ricky recognition as an NFT pioneer. Outside of animation, Ricky served as a retained firefighter for eight and a half years, an experience that taught him the importance of teamwork, quick thinking, and resilience in the face of challenges. This service shaped his perspective on leadership and community, qualities that resonate deeply in his work today. Beyond his professional success, Ricky’s life is deeply rooted in his family. His three children inspire him daily, and he’s driven by a vision of building connections worldwide so his children, and others, can have friends across the planet. Through RJDM and beyond, Ricky continues to inspire the next generation, proving that creativity and resilience are limitless. The future remains an unwritten chapter in Ricky’s story, one filled with exciting possibilities. Whether collaborating with new clients, mentoring emerging talent, or creating transformative content, Ricky is inviting the world to be part of his epic journey - shaping the future, one innovative idea at a time. He is currently exploring new technologies and crafting the vision for a feature film inspired by the NFTJungle, blending creativity, storytelling, and innovation into a project that promises to captivate and inspire audiences worldwide