I often sit on industry panels (for example the BBC Music magazine awards; RPS Awards; the Association of British Orchestras conference) and occasionally host events (such as the Music & Drama Education Expo). I am available for on-stage Q&As and pre-concert talks.

Any collisions between writing and drawing always please me, especially using words in a pictorial way, as in ‘Nasty biscuits’ (2023) and ‘all combinations are great’ (2025) from my ongoing emoji paintings. I indulge my fascination with butterflies through my ‘pinned’ pictures, a series that references the outdated tradition of capturing, killing and pinning insects. Each butterfly is actual size, allowing macro painting exploration (and occasional eye strain). Swallowtail (2024) and Orange tip (2024) are featured here. My work has been shown in various UK exhibitions – and adorns many loos.

Hello.

I'm Claire Jackson – journalist, editor, artist, dachshund PA. I write about classical music, opera and the arts, and animals (sometimes simultaneously).

I am a regular contributor to BBC Music magazine and Country Life, and have a monthly column in the Big Issue. I review for the Telegraph and Opera Now, among others. I also write for industry titles including Classical Music.

As a former editor of International Piano (2011-15), I have a keen interest in keyboard music and piano making. I’ve interviewed lots of the world’s leading pianists (from Ludovico Einaudi to Daniil Trifonov) and peeked into plenty of studios, rehearsals and workshops around the globe – visiting Kawai in Japan was a recent highlight. I’ve been interviewed by the Independent and the Guardian for piano related stories. I document notable instruments at @purplepiano.

I’m an advocate for arts education: I have been acting editor for Music Teacher (2015; 2018; 2020) and supported the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence. Before joining International Piano, I edited Muso (2008-11), a classical music magazine that was distributed throughout conservatoires in the UK and the US. Both Muso and International Piano were subject to coverage (ridicule and praise, respectively) in Private Eye; a personal thrill.

I provide copy writing for composers, performers, record labels, exam boards, management agencies and musical instrument manufacturers. I offer editorial consultation to multiple magazines and artists – and I can do my own InDesign stunts. Occasionally, I write sleeve notes.

I also work on a number of bespoke publishing, events and strategic communications projects across the arts and academia – often as a ghost writer. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss a future collaboration, ghostly or otherwise.

Other information: I am a dedicated staffer to Bow the miniature dachshund, who is busy overseeing my current research into Britten and Pears's dogs. Contemporary opera features highly in my interests, as does woodwind music (I’m a lapsed flautist and saxophonist) and all types of making.

[email protected]

@claireiswriting