Satvinder Sehmbey
The word Sikh comes from the Punjabi word ਸਿੱਖ ; a learner, one who seeks knowledge and understanding through experience, reflection and growth. It’s a meaning that continues to shape how I move through the world.
Some of the best learning in my life has come from stepping into spaces that didn’t always feel built for me at first. Listening, observing, adapting and slowly finding rhythm within them.
Music and photography sit at the centre of my practice. I play tabla, performing everywhere from Glastonbury to Seoul. Through TravelSikh, I document places, people and passing moments through photography.
One teaches me how to listen. The other teaches me how to see.
Together, they shape how I move through the world and how I work with others.
Alongside this, I create industry experiences and collaborations through Creative Shift at the University of the Arts London, helping emerging creatives step into the industry through collaborative projects with a learn by doing approach.
Education
2021: PGCert - Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication. University of the Arts London, UK
2010: MA Art & Design (Photography and Sound Art). University of Wolverhampton, UK
2010: BA Tabla - (Indian classical percussion). Ravi Music College, Birmingham, UK. (Affiliate of Chandigarh University, India).
2006: BA (Hons) Interior Design. University of Huddersfield, UK
Music Performances
2021: Prabandh: Fundamentals of Indian Classical Music. (Drum and Brass) Tabla accompaniment for Pritam Singh. (Online).
2019: 20th Anniversary of Millenium Beat. West Bromwich, UK
2019: PART, Take Courage Gallery. London, UK
2019: Decolonising the Curriculum, University of the Arts London (UAL). London, UK
2018: We Are Sound (Musical Collective). BBC Forum, Norwich, UK
2018: We Are Sound (Musical Collective). Simon Sainsbury Centre, Cambridge, UK
2018: Deepak Parmashivan (Sarangi). Ancient India and Iran Trust, Cambridge, UK
2018: Deepak Parmashivan (Sarangi). Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
2017: Sanskruti Dance Cambridge. Junction Theatre, Cambridge, UK
2017: Sushant Achawal (Sitar). Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
2017: Sushant Achawal (Sitar). Emmanuel College, Cambridge, UK
2017: Avradeep Pal (Sarod). Namur, Belgium
2016: Iroko (World music band). Cambridge Jazz Festival, Cambridge, UK
2016: Iroko (World music band). Hot Numbers Cafe, Cambridge, UK
2012: Pritam Rhythm Tribe. Nottingham Mela, Nottingham, UK
2011: Pritam Singh, A Journey of Gharanas. Pisa, Italy
2011: International Festival. Wolverhampton University, Wolverhampton, UK
2008: USD (Unknown Strange Dance Company). International Women's Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea
2008: USD (Unknown Strange Dance Company). Pohang Dance Festival, South Korea
2008: USD (Unknown Strange Dance Company). Nokji Park Jinju, South Korea
2007: Harballabh Sangeet Samelan (Competition). Punjab, India
2006: Ravi Music College. Birmingham, UK
2005: BBC Asian Network. Glastonbury, UK
Artist Talks & Workshops
2021: Friday Lates: (Rhythms of North Indian Music) South Asian Heritage Month. Gunnersbury Park & Museum, London, UK
2021: Being South Asian' (Photography Workshop). University of the Arts London & Gunnersbury Park & Museum, London, UK
2021: Photography Workshop. Gunnersbury Park & Museum, London, UK
2019: The Rhythms of North Indian Music. Who Do We Think We Are? University of the Arts London, UK
2017: TEDx: Sikhing Experience. Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
Photography Commissions
2022: Birmingham Commonwealth Orchestra & Mind, Music and Movement. Birmingham, UK
2022: Wimbledon College of Arts connects with Southall and Hyderabad. London, UK
2020: Pritam Singh (Tabla Solo). Kolkata, India
2019: Nanak Rhapsody. (550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji). Library of Birmingham, UK
2019: Anubrata Chatterjee (Tabla Solo). Birmingham Buddhist Centre, Birmingham, UK
2018: Labyrinth - Cambridge School of Art. Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, Netherlands
2017: Derby Mela (Festival). Derby, UK
2016: Holocaust Lecture by Mala Tribich. Wolverhampton University, UK
2015: MMA Workshop with Gabriel Gonzaga. Dark Circle Martial Arts, Wolverhampton, UK
2015: Holocaust Lecture by Prof. Robert A. Shaw. Wolverhampton University, UK
2015: Pritam Singh & Thithankar Banerjee in concert. Sparkenhoe Theatre, Leicester, UK
2013: Pritam Singh. Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham, UK
2012: Village Well (Folk Band). Moseley Folk Festival, Birmingham, UK
2010: Black Country Creative Advantage Conference. The Public, West Bromwich, UK
2010: ROTW (Rhythms of the World music festival). Hitchin, UK
2010: Dancing Rings, Tracking Rhythms. Sarehole Mill, Birmingham, UK
2008: Pritam Singh. Shambala Music Festival. Plymouth, UK
2008: Tabla Tutor by Pritam Singh. (Book Design). Birmingham, UK
2007: Beating Drums for Brums Heritage. Sarehole Mill, Birmingham, UK
Articles & Features
2021: BBC World Service Crowd Science. Why is learning stuff harder as you get older? (Podcast)
2019: Who Do We Think We Are? University of the Arts London, UK. (Zine)
2016: Desi Globe Trotter. (Interview)
2015: Black Sheep Studio and Art Gallery. (Feature)
2015: Intervention Meditation. (Podcast)
2015: Colours of Cuba. Kafe 6/8, Birmingham, UK (Feature)
2010: MAstar AxisWeb. (Article)
2010: Dancing Rings, Tracking Rhythms. Birmingham, UK (Feature)
2009: SpringTime (Magazine). Jinju, South Korea (Article)
Higher Education Projects
Awards:
2025: UAL Students’ Union Special Recognition Award
2023: UAL Students’ Union Special Recognition Award
Women+ of Colour in Leadership:
2026: Creative Shift x IRIS Wrldwide x Brita - (Final LinkedIn Post)
2025: Creative Shift x Uncharted x SheSays - (Final LinkedIn Post)
2024: Creative Shift x Hope&Glory x The Body Coach - (UAL Story)
2024: Article by Hope&Glory: Women+ of Colour in Leadership 2024
2024: Women+ of Colour in Leadership: Industry Live brief - Creative Shift x Hope&Glory x The Body Coach
2023: Creative Shift x She Says x Major Players: The Leader Within. Industry Talks and Networking
2023: Women+ of Colour in Leadership: Industry Live brief - Creative Shift x Hope&Glory x Depop
2022:In Conversation with the team behind Women+ in Leadership.Teaching Learning Exchange (UAL)
2022: Reflecting on the 2022 Women+ of Colour in Leadership programme (Podcast episode)
2022: Reflecting on the 2022 Women+ of Colour in Leadership programme (UAL Story)
2022: Support Women+ in Leadership in diversifying the creative industries(UAL Story)
2022: Women+ In Leadership: Nail Your Networking. (Event in collaboration with Phoenix Court)
2022: Women+ of Colour in Leadership: Industry Live brief - Creative Shift x Hope&Glory x LinkedIn
2021: In conversation with the team behind Women+ in Leadership(UAL Story)
2021: Showcasing Women+ In Leadership (UAL Article)
2021: Women+ of Colour in Leadership: Universities UK (UUK) Closing Ethnicity Awarding Gaps (Conference)
2020: Future Women+ Leaders (Industry live brief - Raconteur)
2020: Women+ in Leadership (Networking Event - Hospital Club, London)
2019: Women+ in Leadership (Launch event - guest talks)
Industry Collaborations:
2026: Creative Shift x venturethree x LADBible
2025: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x Sky Sports (Final LinkedIn post)
2025: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x Sky Sports (Intro LinkedIn post)
2024: Creative Shift presents Dream Rehab with Reuben Christian @ Samsung KX
2024: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x Castore (UAL Story)
2024: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x Castore (Final LinkedIn post)
2024: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x Castore (Intro LinkedIn post)
2023: Creative Shift x UAL Insights x Mother: Inside Track
2023: Creative Shift x Blackmale Beats x Blakademik (Pannel Discussion)
2023: Creative Shift x Blackmale Beats x Blakademik
2023: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x FLANNELS
2022: Creative Shift x Anyone
2021: Creative Shift x venturethree (v3) x NOW
2021: Creative Shift X Soho House
Research Projects:
2021: Falling Through Gaps. Digital Literacy Research: with London College of Communication (LCC)
Conferences:
2025: Creative HE Employability Series: Creative Shift, University of Arts London(NERUPI Network)
2023: Compassionate & belonging pedagogy through a Creative Shift perspective (UAL)
2021: In Conversation with Creative Shift. Teaching Learning Exchange (UAL)
2021: Creative Shift Lightning Talk. Exchange Research (UAL)
2021: Women+ of Colour in Leadership - Closing Ethnicity Awarding Gaps. Universities UK (UUK)
Articles & Reports:
2024: Tackling Diversity in the Creative Industries(v3 Article)
2023: Creative Shift Annual Report
2022: Exposure doesn’t pay the bills: the importance of Living Wage Week and supporting young creativesUAL Story