Leonardo da Vinci took 28 years to create The Virgin of the Rocks for the Milanese Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception’s oratory in San Francesco.

The inspiration for the National Gallery East Wing came somewhat more quickly, but the dedication needed to make it happen continued for many years.

The East Wing project may not rival The Virgin of the Rocks in artistic terms, but it’s hugely important in drawing more people to see one of the greatest collections of European paintings.

The National Gallery had already refurbished much of its gallery space, but the trustees knew that the galleries were only part of today’s visitor experience.

Inspiring public areas, including shop and café, were designed within this East Wing scheme to tempt the five million annual visitors to make the most of their experience, to linger, enjoy and to return again and again.

It took time to re-plan these facilities and get it just right. Much of the value created was in that planning – generating, developing and evaluating solutions, then identifying the right ones.

It’s a journey, it needs dedication and commitment, and there are good moments and not so good moments. You stick with it. But all the time you learn and understand more about how the client and their business works.