Proof that sometimes all you have to do is ask…

 

In August, I set the intention of finding somewhere to display my artwork, as my paintings, hiding away, mummified at the back of my studio, were yearning to be resurrected, seen, and experienced by fresh eyes.

I was already planning my exhibition Dual Currents in London, but I wanted to find somewhere more permanent to house my work.

 

After walking around town, eyeing up empty shops, I decided to write a letter to an empty building on Silverless Street.

I wrote a letter outlining my history as an artist and politely asked if I could possibly display my paintings in the shop window while it was vacant. I also posted my exhibition catalogue from my first solo exhibition, When The Stream Walks On The Shore, through the door.

 

I quickly got a reply from the man renovating the shop, who had done a sculpture class in Florence last year and was super excited to pass the message on to Nicholas, who owns the building. After sending my artwork to Nicholas, he quickly agreed to let me display my paintings.

Describing my works as having “The stillness of Millais, with a gentle undercurrent of rage… perhaps I’ve got that wrong,” he hadn’t got it wrong, but my rage seemed a distant dream these days.

 

Nicholas and I met for a coffee, where I learned he had been longing to get involved in the art world and was genuinely pleased to be able to help a young artist in any way he could.

 

It was only then I discovered that the building used to be the HQ for the Gazette and Herald, the local paper for Marlborough & Pewsey, and Nicholas asked if I would be happy to be in an article about the transformation of the space. I happily agreed, but never expected to end up on the front page. I haven’t been on the front page since 2006 when Shelley Rudman won silver at the Olympics and my siblings and I were photographed holding a banner for Shelley’s ‘homecoming’.

 

Although it’s only local news, it was a beautiful surprise, and I feel grateful that I’m able to brighten up the local community with some vibrant art. A big thank you to Nicholas 

generously allowed to transform a forgotten building into my very own Art Gallery.