Why Choose Surreal Academy
🧠 Micro-Lessons, Maximum Growth
Most online courses have a 20% to 30% completion rate, and it’s no surprise—they’re often overwhelming, filled with long, dry lessons that quickly lose their spark. But we set out to create something truly different: an experience designed for transformation and backed by 25+ hours of research into what makes the best online learning programs (like Mindvalley’s 90% completion rates). The result? Our course has an impressive 83% completion rate, far above the industry average. Here’s why it works:
1. Daily Micro-Learning (10-20 Minutes a Day)
We’ve crafted each lesson to be short and impactful, modelled after the TED Talk format, which caps at 18 minutes for a reason. This is the optimal time for focus and retention, making it easier for you to absorb new ideas without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Effortless Habit Stacking
The easiest way to build a new habit is to attach it to something you’re already doing. Whether it’s your morning coffee, sketching session, or a quiet moment in your studio, our course integrates seamlessly into your routine. It’s about making growth feel natural, not forced.
3. From Learning to Transformation
Most courses stop at teaching; we go further. Learning adds information, but transformation rewires your mindset. We guide you through a process that helps you clear mental clutter, break through limiting beliefs, and see your art business from a new perspective. It’s not just about strategies—it’s about opening up to a new way of thinking.
4. Fast, Fun, and Powered by AI We know your time is valuable, so we’ve streamlined the entire process with AI and ChatGPT, delivering bite-sized, actionable steps. This makes the learning process faster, easier, and more enjoyable. We cut through the noise, turning complex strategies into simple, fun, and digestible steps.
5. Meaningful Practice (30 Minutes of Daily Homework)
To ensure true transformation, we’ve included 30 minutes of focused daily practice. This isn’t just busywork—it’s designed to help you apply what you’ve learned immediately, reinforcing new habits and strategies.
The Result? You’ll make consistent progress in just 20 minutes a day of lessons and 30 minutes of impactful practice, without the overwhelm. Our course turns complex concepts into simple, engaging steps that you can start implementing right away—helping you build a successful online art business with confidence.
🧬 Personalised & Tailored Just For You
Let’s be honest: the way you learn, create, and build a business should feel as unique as your art. We kick things off with a personalised survey that dives into your learning style, personality type (MBTI), and energetic blueprint. Think of it like uncovering the DNA of your creative process—finding out how you learn best, where you get your energy, and what kind of lifestyle truly lights you up.
Most courses out there are generic. You know the type: they throw the same strategies at everyone, leaving you feeling drained and wondering why it’s not clicking. That’s why we take a different approach. We tailor every part of your experience to fit your natural flow and strengths. It’s not about squeezing into someone else’s template—it’s about building from a place of authenticity, where your business model aligns with who you really are.
Because when you show up as your true self, you don’t just attract clients—you magnetise them. This course isn’t here to change who you are; it’s here to unlock the path that’s already meant for you, making success feel natural and effortless.
🤩 "Incredibly overwhelming AND incredibly fulfilling" - Thomas Bosket
No sugarcoating here—many concepts in this program will feel brand new, like learning to type for the first time or picking up a second language. It might feel uncomfortable at times, but that’s where real growth happens. The truth is, the hard things are what lead to the deepest sense of fulfilment. When you reach the end of this journey, you won’t be questioning whether it was worth it—you’ll feel it in your bones: the transformation, the progress, the clarity.
If you’re seeking quick fixes or shortcuts, this program isn’t for you. Many competitors sell you on flashy strategies that promise instant results, but those cookie-cutter tactics come at a high cost: they often leave you feeling disconnected from your authentic self, cheapening your brand and leading you down a path that feels out of sync with your true artistic vision.
It’s like taking drugs to reach a superficial state of happiness—it might give you a momentary boost, but it doesn’t last.
Real, lasting change comes from doing the deep, intentional work, just like meditating to find genuine inner peace. It’s not instant, but it’s enduring.
So if you’re looking for a shortcut or the easy way out, this isn’t the program for you. There are plenty of competitors happy to promise quick results. But if you’re ready for real, deep-rooted transformative growth, then let’s get started.
🤖 "This will revolutionise the entire art world" - CEO, LensCulture, Photography Magazine
The global eCommerce industry was valued at $5.8 trillion in 2023—nearly 90 times the size of the traditional art market ($65 billion). The truth is, while tech and e-commerce startups have been leveraging advanced growth hacking tactics to scale to 6, 7, and even 8 figures, the art world has been left in the dust—relying on outdated methods that simply don’t keep up.
At Surreal Digital, we’re here to change that. We’re not just another marketing course; we’re a catalyst for transformation, bringing the cutting-edge mindset of Silicon Valley directly into your art studio. We apply proven scaling techniques used by top tech giants—A/B testing, automation, and tailored offer creation—and adapt them specifically for artists and creative businesses. This includes using innovative tools like VR, virtual exhibitions, and gamification principles designed to captivate and engage your audience.
This isn’t about following trends; it’s about democratising access and giving artists the tools to future-proof their businesses and craft a future where art is accessible, dynamic, and globally resonant.
We’re here to bridge the gap between where the art world is and where it could be. Our course isn’t just a series of lessons; it’s a complete rethinking of what’s possible.
True innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about shifting the entire narrative of what the art world can become.
🧘♀️"Your Course is Healing" - Sharmaine Kwan
True transformation begins with the unconscious mind. As Dr. Joe Dispenza says, by the time we reach 35, 95% of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are subconscious patterns—like a computer program.
This is why many artists feel stuck, even when they have the talent and skill. If deep down you hold beliefs like “My art isn’t good enough,” or “I don’t deserve to make a living from my creativity,” these thoughts act like invisible barriers, quietly sabotaging your success. It’s why you might struggle to put yourself out there, hesitate to raise your prices, or doubt that your work can find its place in the world.
That’s why we start with the root: your subconscious mind. Our course is designed to help you break through these hidden blocks using a powerful mix of hypnotherapy, NLP, somatic exercises, meditation, and psychoanalysis. We’re not just teaching you marketing strategies; we’re guiding you to rewrite the internal script that’s been holding you back.
This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about real, lasting change. When you transform your inner world, you transform how you show up in your art and your business. You’ll find that as you shift these limiting beliefs, your confidence grows, your vision expands, and the path to attracting collectors becomes clear. Troubleshoot the self first, and the business blocks begin to dissolve. Because when you believe in your art’s worth, so does everyone else.
🤪 "Fun, And A Bit Addictive" - Jacki Clark
Our customer Jacki Clark puts it best: “It’s enjoyable to do. Out of the box, creative, and I had no trouble maintaining enthusiasm every day. There’s so much out there that claims to support and enable artists, but it’s mostly dry and boring. We’re creatives—why isn’t this stuff presented… creatively?”
That’s exactly why we created a surreal experience, not just a course. We’ve distilled practices and theories rooted in Jungian psychology, art therapy, hypnotherapy, Zen Buddhism, breathwork, and Daoism to make this journey as engaging as it is transformative. It’s designed to tap into the creative mind, making learning feel like play and inviting you to reimagine marketing as a creative, playful act—just like making art.
We’ve also woven in elements of gamification—small wins and bite-sized lessons—to keep your enthusiasm high. Because when learning feels this good, it doesn’t just stick—it becomes part of who you are.
🧠 "You didn’t just teach me what to do, you showed me the how & why" - Tereza Barnard
Jeff Bezos once said, “I very frequently get the question: ‘What’s going to change in the next 10 years?’ And that is a very interesting question; it’s a very common one. I almost never get the question: ‘What’s not going to change in the next 10 years?’ And I submit to you that that second question is actually the more important of the two—because you can build a business strategy around the things that are stable in time.”
This idea is at the heart of our course philosophy. When you enroll in typical courses like “How to Grow Your Art Business on Instagram,” you’re taught what to do right now—strategies that might work today but could be obsolete tomorrow. Social media algorithms change overnight; what worked last year might not work at all this year. Most courses lead you down a narrow path, implying that their approach is the only way forward.
We take a different approach. Instead of giving you a rigid, one-size-fits-all plan, we teach you a framework for thinking—a way to choose your own path based on your unique brand, values, and audience. The strategies might evolve, but the principles of storytelling, building genuine connections, and understanding your audience remain timeless.
So, what won’t change in the next 10 years? The power of storytelling, understanding collector psychology, authentic branding, the mechanics of pricing, crafting irresistible offers, building genuine relationships, mastering persuasive copywriting, and the inner work of overcoming limiting beliefs. These timeless principles form the bedrock of our course, designed to help you develop confidence, align your mindset, and thrive—no matter how the art world evolves.
In short, we don’t just teach you what to do; we show you how to think. When you learn to build your business on principles that don’t change, you gain the flexibility to adapt to any trend, platform, or market shift. It’s about giving you a foundation that will serve you for the next decade and beyond.
So, if you’re looking for quick, trendy tips that might work today but fade tomorrow, this isn’t the course for you. But if you want a framework rooted in timeless principles, designed to help you grow and thrive in any environment, then let’s get started.
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Founder's Story
"At 18, I was at my lowest point, struggling with severe depression. It was art that pulled me out of that darkness—it became my therapy and my purpose. This experience sparked a deep drive in me to make art accessible."
I'm Ginny Wan, founder of Surreal Digital. With a BA Philosophy from UCL and MSc Management from London Business School and experiences at institutions such as Christie’s London, the Louvre, and leading $5M+ in ad spend for Ecom, tech, and luxury brands at one of the leading ad agencies in Europe, I bring a unique perspective to the table. As a guest lecturer at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and UCL, I share my practical strategies with the next wave of art entrepreneurs.
My mission? To make the art world and art marketing accessible, help artists and emerging art businesses thrive with digital tools, and use creativity as a force for change.
In my free time, I dive into the unseen laws of the universe, exploring flow states through altered consciousness, Daoist and Hermetic wisdom, Jungian dream analysis, qigong, and breathwork—embracing the principle of ‘as above, so below’ to infuse new layers of depth and a surreal edge into my art marketing and creative thinking.
About Us
At Surreal Digital, we started as an art marketing agency based in London, working with art galleries, artists, and forward-thinking startups. Our monthly retainers reached up to $7,500, reflecting the deep, personalised work we did for each client. But we noticed something important: the artists and galleries who needed our expertise the most often didn’t have the budget to access it.
We realised we needed to make a conscious change. Instead of keeping our knowledge locked behind high-ticket services, we decided to democratise it. We poured everything we know—our years of experience, our best strategies, and our deep understanding of digital marketing for the art world—into this course. It’s designed to be an accessible, comprehensive guide that anyone can use, regardless of where they are in their career or what their budget looks like.
This isn’t just a business pivot for us; it’s a choice rooted in our belief that every artist and emerging art business deserves the chance to thrive. By shifting our model, we’re able to reach and empower more creators, giving them the tools they need to build sustainable, successful art businesses—on their own terms.
Value of artworks and products generated through our content, ads, and marketing strategies.
Art galleries, artists, and startups we've helped getting online sales through digital marketing
Brands see an increase in their Return On Investment within 3 months of working with Surreal Digit
Our Team
The creative brains behind Surreal Digital
Ginny Wan
Founder, Strategy & Creative Director
An amateur philosopher, digital marketing strategist & a serial entrepreneur who believes in building a creative culture that breathes mission & innovation and in wielding creativity for the greater good.
Ana-Maria Bivol
Art Director
An artist with an imaginative soul who left art school in Rome to pursue a career in graphic design - a game changing decision that allows her to make the digital world more beautiful. Previously, she has used her creative genius to scale multiple E-commerce stores' to millions in revenue while working in a US ad agency.
Emily Snow
Copywriter & Content Writer
With a MA History of Art degree from The Courtauld, she uses the power of words to craft stories so compelling that art collectors can't help but fall in love.
Princess Lumpas
Graphic Designer & Assistant
A multimedia art school grad and Gen Z dynamo who turns plain text into viral, scroll-stopping masterpieces. Whether it’s eye-popping videos or jaw-dropping graphics, she’s got the magic to make social media sizzle.