Our team has been busy planning, prepping, sprucing and re-organising, ready for the galleries opening on the 12th April – but we still managed to find time to catch up with Lucy to find out more about what inspires her work.
Q. What do you love about your job?
I love to paint, obviously, but my job is so much more than that. We are a family-run business with a team of 16 staff. Our team is small enough to know each and every one of our members and we work well together, towards the business goals. I love the challenge of working in our own business, operating as a team to make things happen, from bringing together a launch of my new paintings to generating ideas for new stationery, greetings cards or mugs. We often have group mind mapping sessions for marketing ideas and think up ways to improve our website, galleries and processes. The diversity of each day gives me a buzz. The time spent on my own in my studio, pastels in hand, being creative is wonderful but equally I thrive on being around people, our customers and our team.
Q. At what age did you realise your love for art?
I was probably around 9 or 10. I was obsessed with drawinganything I could around the house or garden. My mum recalls the days when I wasyounger just colouring, drawing, crafting and being perfectly happy for hoursand hours on my own. My early reports from primary school read “Lucy is adaydreamer, in a world of her own, always looking out of the window”!
It makes me chuckle now when I think about it, but Irealise why. I was allowing my creative mind to dream, imagine and I don’tthink there’s anything wrong with that, especially at a young age.
I loved drawing family pets too and grew up with cats, dogs and bunnies. Pets are still the subject of some of my work – ‘Is it Playtime Yet’ is inspired by our little dog Patsy, who keeps me company while I’m working from home, eagerly awaiting break time so I’ll play with her! While other pieces such as ‘Escape from the City’ are simply inspired by enjoying time out with companions – four legged or human!
Q. Who are your biggest influences?
My honest answer to that is my children, family and friends as it’s often things that they say and do that spark ideas for paintings. For example, Double Trouble is inspired by my twins and their different personalities – you will see one lamb is snuggling in next to the parent where it’s nice and safe. The other, in a much more playful mood is mischievously standing on top of the sheep showing who’s boss! More recently, I painted ‘It’s The Little Things in Life’ – a cuddle and some reassuring words, a simple act of kindness and sometimes just knowing that loved ones are there for you is enough. Something that lock down has reminded us of!
I like to take inspiration from the world around me.Sure, you can be influenced by other art, but the kind of art I like to look atis completely unlike my own. I’m a great Monet fan!
Q. How do you find running a family business?
Great – I don’t need to make all the decisions! Sometimesit can be challenging if you don’t agree on things but it’s no different toarguing over how long the heating should be on for at home!
Q. What’s your most popular piece, and are you ever surprised by things people like?
The three galleries have different best-sellers – in our Yarm gallery Steel River with the Transporter Bridge is popular, while in our Richmond gallery it’s Under the Moon and Stars as it has Richmond Castle in the background. In the Brompton gallery ‘Because I Love You’ featuring two hedgehogs has proved popular recently, which was a bit of a surprise as artwork with local landmarks often makes the best-sellers list! Overall, Pedals Passion and Glory is our best-selling print at 872 copies, closely followed by Blue Eyes. One is a cycling print and the other sheep art, so they’re completely different pieces!
Sometimes you never can tell what people will absolutely love… I recently released ‘Our Happy Place’, a painting of a caravan in the sunset which has been very popular. It’s quite different to my other artwork, so I\’m delighted it\’s been well received. We often go caravanning in the Lake District which was the inspiration behind it, so perhaps others can relate to our love of staycations!
Q. What are the most memorable complements you’ve received?
I’ve had so many compliments about my work over the yearsand they come in so many forms. Every week there’s a little gem that lands inmy Facebook inbox and I’m so thankful for people’s kind words. What resonateswith gusto in all of these compliments is how my work has made people smile,that I’ve cheered them up somehow, brought comfort to them and brightened theirday. What greater compliment can you have than that, especially during thesetimes.
