Sophie Perez: Following Your Thread, Creativity & Backing Yourself

What if the thing you’ve always loved, that quiet, consistent thread running through your life is actually pointing you somewhere meaningful? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Sophie Perez — fine artist, Royal College of Art graduate, former elite cyclist, studio founder, and mother of three, to explore what it really means to follow passion over prestige, and to keep redefine success - even if it different to what others may think. Sophie’s pathway is anything but linear. From studying painting in London and couriering by bike, to racing at the Tour de France level, stepping away from art for a decade while raising her family, and then rebuilding her creative practice on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, her story is layered with courage, reinvention, and backing yourself. This conversation offers reassurance for parents and young people alike: success doesn’t arrive all at once, and it rarely follows a straight line. Instead, it evolves and gets shaped by curiosity, community, discipline, and the willingness to begin again. If you’re supporting a creative young person, navigating identity beyond school results, or questioning whether passion can truly become a pathway, this episode offers perspective and permission...because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is keep following the thread. What You’ll Hear in This Episode In this conversation, Sophie shares: • Why art was never a backup plan — it was always the throughline • What studying at the Royal College of Art taught her about identity and discipline • The unexpected lessons from professional cycling and elite competition • Why stepping away from your passion doesn’t mean it’s gone • The power of community in building creative confidence • How success shifts through motherhood and different life stages • Why “don’t shut the door on yourself” matters more than chasing certainty • Supporting young people who don’t fit into neat academic categories Discover More About Sophie Perez and her art here 👇: https://www.sophieperezartist.com/