The Source

The Source is a new conversation series hosted by Anna Higgs, an acclaimed film producer, creative leader, and previously Chair of the BAFTA Film Committee.

Anna has the exciting task of inviting creatives from all walks of life who have been inspired by our paintings for an afternoon Salon conversation.

In the second of the series, Higgs invites Academy Award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell CBE, who will share some of her inspirations and her connections to the Gallery.

Beginning her career in theatre, where she worked with the legendary performer and choreographer Lindsay Kemp in the early 80s, Powell has designed over 20 shows for London-based dance companies.

Best-known for her extensive film work, Powell has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards for costume design, and won Oscars for ‘Shakespeare in Love’, ‘The Aviator’ and ‘The Young Victoria’. She has also received 16 BAFTA nominations, three of which she won. Shebecame the first-ever costume designer to receive the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship in 2023.

Her films include ‘Caravaggio’, ‘Gangs of New York’, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘The Favourite’, ‘The Irishman’ and many more. In 2025, she was made a Commander of The British Empire (CBE) for services to the film industry.

Anna Higgs is Managing Director of drama production company Character 7, whose recent star-studded successes include heist miniseries ‘Culprits’ and psychological thriller ‘The Undoing’. A second season of ‘The Night Manager’, in partnership with the Ink Factory, has just finished shooting.

A multi-award-winning producer, columnist and host, Higgs most recently Executive Produced Channel 4 mini-series ‘Beth’, from writer-director Uzo Oleh, and is Producer on Hassan Akkad's debut feature film, following his successful short film Matar.

Visionary work she has supported includes Sundance-winning Nick Cave film 20,000 Days on Earth, BAFTA-winning ‘The End of the F*cking World’ and Oscar winner Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Frank’. She has worked with filmmakers including Ken Loach, Lisa Gunning, Ben Wheatley, Alice Lowe, Paul King and Jenn Nkiru.

She was previously Chair of the BAFTA Film Committee and on the Board of Trustees (ending 2025), and a Non-Executive Director of groundbreaking games company Interior/Night.

She has been named one of Creative Review's 'Creative Leaders 50', and among Time Out's inaugural 'Culture 100', a celebration of the 'innovators, visionaries and pioneers behind what's now and what's next.