Step into Tate Britain this summer and you'll encounter two exhibitions that feel more like dreamscapes than reality.
One showcases the vibrant, subversive watercolours of Edward Burra (1905–1976), whose paintings pulse with the life of cafés, cabarets and clubs. The other explores the esoteric world of Ithell Colquhoun (1906–1988), a radical surrealist whose art blends mysticism, ecology and sexuality into surreal, narrative-rich dimensions.
Ithell Colquhoun, Alcove, 1946
Together, their work distorts, disrupts and reimagines – capturing the strange, the sensual and the socially significant. But can the world of insurance, often seen as painted in endless shades of grey, be understood in a similar light?
That's the question InsuranceERM put to Richard Owen, partner at Lockton, the insurance broker sponsoring these two compelling exhibitions.
"When you look at the work on the canvas it transcends into what we do as a broker because we want to be creative, innovative and ... create curiosity," said Owen, reflecting on the importance of supporting projects like this at Tate.
He sees a clear connection between the kind of creativity expressed by Burra and Colquhoun, and the type of thinking required to keep the insurance industry moving forward. For him, fostering self-expression and curiosity within the business is key to helping it thrive.
Burra's work, in particular, holds striking relevance. His paintings explored queer identity, race, war, and nightlife with an intensity that was both surreal and grounded in social commentary.
His depiction of multiculturalism and marginalised lives resonates with efforts in the insurance industry to better reflect the world it serves.
Edward Burra, Minuit Chanson, 1931
Owen relates this to his own journey. Having come out at 45 and as a member of the LGBT+ community, he reflected on the changes he's seen across the industry.
"I do not think I would have been as successful as I have been," he said, had he come out earlier in his career.
But times are changing. At Lockton, he described how he was supported to "embrace who I was" and bring the "genuine self to work and celebrate it".
Like Burra, Colquhoun also pushed against convention, though through a very different lens. A practising occultist, she explored the subconscious and spiritual worlds in her art, often focusing on sexuality, ecology and magic. Her work, long overlooked, is now recognised as a powerful fusion of personal belief and surrealist vision.
Ithell Colquhoun, Earth Process, 1940
.png "Source: Tate, presented by the National Trust 2016. © Tate. Photo © Tate (Sam Day)")
As such both artists challenged cultural assumptions in their own ways, something Owen sees as increasingly important for the insurance industry, which is still battling outdated perceptions.
He emphasised the sector offers far more than traditional underwriting jobs. With roles spanning operations, legal, human resources and marketing, insurance offers many meaningful paths and Owen said it's vital to show that insurance can make a "big difference to people's lives".
Both Burra and Colquhoun responded deeply to the cultural and political movements of their time. Burra, for instance, tackled the Spanish Civil War and the devastation of World War II in darkly stylised, unsettling compositions.
Edward Burra, Soldiers at Rye, 1941
Owen believes insurance professionals must also be attuned to the wider world. "You have to be cognisant of what goes on in the political and social environment of all the countries you operate in," he said.
That global awareness, he explained, extends to the wellbeing of Lockton's teams and partners across different regions. "You have to make sure that everybody feels they have voice and feels they are supported by the family of Lockton."
Themes of identity and selfhood run through both artists' work, and Owen believes it's essential that companies create space for those conversations too. "If you want to lead people, you have to let them be themselves," he said, drawing a parallel with how the artists processes evolved over time.
He added that he sees innovation as a crucial way to empower people in the industry. For example, by removing repetitive or low-value tasks, professionals can focus more on building meaningful client relationships and becoming genuinely engaged in their work.
This, in turn, helps attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive environment, according to Owen. In terms of attracting diverse talent, he raised the importance of diverse workforces, noting Lockton use of internships, apprenticeships and secondments to broaden the talent pool, particularly from underrepresented socioeconomic backgrounds.
But more than anything, he stressed that progress requires action not just intention. "Just listening to a diverse range of views is not enough, it's also about acting on it," he said.
"When you get that dynamic, whether you're a school leaver or a seasoned professional, everybody has a voice ... and that comes back to the art again: making your voice heard."
