About Us

About Us

Founded in 2020, Sitwell Dearden is an international arts and culture communications consultancy that works with artists, independent galleries, museums, art fairs, curators, advisors and cultural leaders. Founded by Henrietta Sitwell and Nicole Dearden, specialist communicators and highly experienced consultants in the art world, Sitwell Dearden has represented leading galleries, museums, auction houses and artists including: Saatchi Gallery, Ed Cross Fine Art, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, V&A, Rountree Tryon Gallery, START Art Fair, Young Masters Art Prize, Matthew Hilton Studio, Long & Ryle Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Michael Pemberton Studio, Horatio’s Garden, Together We Art, Nature Morte and Woolley & Wallis.

Whether working with local artists or international galleries, Sitwell Dearden takes a personal approach to their strategic communications planning and bespoke media campaigns. Together, Nicole Dearden and Henrietta Sitwell have built an excellent network of media contacts and relationships across the arts, entertainment, lifestyle and national press, facilitating national and global reach to diverse audiences. 

Meet the team

as we answer a few questions:

Henrietta Sitwell

Co-Founder of Sitwell Dearden

Your favourite work of art:

I think my favourite work of art is The Arnolfini Wedding by Jan Van Eyck

Your ideal day in London:

My ideal day in London would be a shopping splurge at Selfridges; a walk round the National Gallery seeing some old favourites; then watching tennis at Wimbledon and then a walk on the common with my family followed by cocktails in a great hotel bar somewhere and then dinner at Chez Bruce.

An exhibition you’re still thinking about:

I was lucky enough to visit the Franz Hals only last week with the curator of the exhibition and it was so special to have a tour with him that I think I will be thinking about this for some time!

Your favourite part of Arts PR?

The pleasure of a great piece of coverage for a well-deserved client!

Where do you see Sitwell Dearden in ten years?

 I hope that age and experience will be as important as knowledge of new trends and activities, and that Nicole and I will still be running a business that we love and believe in.

What is your proudest moment?

Appearing on BBC One’s Fake or Fortune.

Nicole Dearden

Co-Founder of Sitwell Dearden

Your favourite work of art:

I have the privilege of seeing so much great art so my favourite is a constantly evolving thing.  I have always been a huge fan of Tracey Emin and I particularly love  "Life will never be the same (and nor should it)", a beautiful lithograph that showcases her drawing talent.  It was shown in Margate not long after she relocated there and was at the time, living with terminal cancer.  This work moved me so much and made me truly understand the fragility of life. The gallery space is also adjacent to her home which forged an even deeper connection for me.

Your ideal day in London:

A morning coffee followed by exercise and some mindfulness in the morning.  Visiting a favourite gallery such as Victoria Miro or the National Portrait Gallery to take in the latest exhibition and then a stroll around London to explore its endless history - and if I'm lucky enough to have dragged my children along with me - before drinks and dinner with my husband and friends.

An exhibition you’re still thinking about:

Tracey Emin 'A Journey to Death' at Carl Freedman Gallery in 2022 and  textile artist Anya Paintsil ' We are all made of you' at the wonderful Ed Cross Gallery, London in 2022.  In fact, anything at Ed Cross lingers long in the memory.

Your favourite part of Arts PR?

Art is a passion so the best part of working in Arts PR is that it never really feels like work!

Where do you see Sitwell Dearden in ten years?

I am so grateful for my brilliant business partner Henrietta Sitwell and we always seem to be in synch with ideas and the direction for the business.  I hope we continue to constantly evolve and fine tune our service offering and help champion the work of artists.  In the future, I would also love to work with more institutional galleries and museums - a vital platform in an artist's career and a chance to be part of their legacy.

What is your proudest moment?

Aside from actually launching Sitwell Dearden in 2020, there are many proud moments:  securing high profile, high impact press coverage for clients and in the past year we have forged charity partnerships that feels like we are giving back to an industry that we love.

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