Artist Interview Series: Zoe Salt

17 Apr 2026

Part of an ongoing series of interviews delving into the artists, designers and thinkers & doers of our time.

1. Where are you based and how is it shaping you?

I’m based in North London, and while it’s an exciting place to be, I often find it overwhelming.

There’s a constant pressure to be doing something, seeing people, and keeping up, as if you’re always slightly behind the pace of everyone else.

That environment has made me more aware of how easily I can get caught up in comparison and noise. Because of that, I’ve found myself craving the opposite: space, quiet, and simplicity.

I try to spend as much time as I can away from the city, usually somewhere remote, ideally in the mountains in my van, where I feel freer and can give my mind space.

2. Which book is on your bedside table?

I’m currently reading The Wild Isles, edited by Patrick Barkham. It’s a collection of nature writings from across the UK and Ireland.

Reading it makes me feel really lucky to live on such a remarkable island while also reminding me just how much of it I need to explore.

3. What social accounts do you keep returning back to?

Instagram is the only social media platform I use and that’s more than enough!

I think it’s an incredibly powerful and inspiring space, particularly for photographers. It offers a way to share work instantly, connect and reconnect with people all over the world, and discover perspectives and places you might never otherwise encounter.

In many ways, it’s changed how we discover photography—long gone are the days of wandering into a bookshop and stumbling across new work for the first time.

It’s certainly changed how I discover photographers and their work, which is slightly dangerous as it often leads to buying more books!

4. Favourite piece of art?

Anything by César Manrique! His paintings, sculptures, and architecture, but especially Jameos del Agua and LagOmar.

He had such an obvious love and respect for nature. He worked with the landscape rather than against it, integrating his designs so seamlessly into the environment that it was like they were put there for him to show the rest of us what was possible, he built us fairytales.

His work is a great example of how people and nature can coexist in harmony.

5. What song have you got on repeat?

Lately I’ve had a lot of country music on repeat. It’s partly been influenced by some of the TV I’ve been watching, but it also taps into a long-standing fascination I’ve always had with America.

There’s something about it that takes me to a dusty, wild landscape with beautiful golden light and a slowness of life.

6. The biggest life lesson you have learnt?

Life is short, and nothing is guaranteed. That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned - there’s no real sense in waiting for the “right” moment, because it might never come.

It’s something I’m still working on, but I’m trying to be better at acting on things rather than putting them off. I just need a time turner!

7. One person that inspires you?

I find inspiration in so many people that it’s impossible to single out just one.

I’m lucky to be surrounded by incredible friends and family, not to mention the countless others beyond that circle who inspire me in different ways.

I’m in awe of people who show quiet dedication and determination, especially in the face of adversity, and who bring genuine kindness to what they do, whether that’s in their work, their creativity, or how they show up for others.

8. Do you have anything exciting you’re currently working on?

I’m currently planning a project to document my friend, the hugely inspirational athlete Sophie Grant, as she takes on the Via Alpina this summer, aiming for the overall FKT. 

It’s a chance to spend time in the mountains with one of my favourite people, capturing something special and epic along the way.

9. Next place on your travel wish list?

Antarctica will forever be top of my wish list but until I make it there, anywhere remote - the more off the map the better - whether it’s hot or cold, wet or dry, high or low!

10. What do you think about the state of advertising?

We seem to be living in an age where it feels almost impossible to escape advertising - walking down the street, driving, sitting on the tube, listening to a podcast, reading an article, scrolling through Instagram, watching TV. Everywhere you turn, something is being sold, and at times it can feel a bit overwhelming.

That said, I think the most compelling advertising exists at both ends of the spectrum - perhaps the Gemini in me! I’m drawn to work that feels authentic and unpolished: campaigns that tell real stories and capture something honest that genuinely resonates.

At the same time, I have a real appreciation for the craft of high-fashion advertising, where every detail is considered, elevated, and beautifully executed.

What matters most to me is intention and originality. With technology advancing quicker than I can make a cup of tea, I hope we don’t lose sight of the value of human creativity.

There are so many incredibly talented people creating powerful, meaningful work with their own hands, and that sense of craft and authorship is something I’d hate to see replaced by AI.

I also really value the collaborative side of the industry, how it brings people together to create something as a team. That shared process, and the creativity that comes from it, is something worth holding onto and celebrating for as long as possible.

You can find more of Zoe's work on Instagram and website.

You can read more from our Artist Interview series on our blog.