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Artist interviews

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The story of fantasy artist and sculpter – Soso

November 4, 2016

“…life is like music and you are supposed to dance to it, rather than rushing to the end..” This is a beautiful quote from Soso in this moving and fascinating interview with the talented artist and maker of magical beings. She is bringing a whole enchanted world to life in her creations. Be sure to catch her exhibition in Glastonbury if you’re in the area in December – read on for more information….

The Story of the artist – Katy Jones

October 14, 2016

I’m really happy to be continuing my series of interviews with creative people, and today it’s fantasy artist, Katy Jones. Along with her paintings of mythical creatures, I also love her drawings from nature. If you’re looking for advice on learning how to paint or even taking the step into becoming a professional artist, then please read on as she has given some really useful answers…..

The story of a potter – Stephanie Edwards from Poundsgate Pottery

August 11, 2016

I’m another crafter who likes to listen to audio books while they work – the only problem is that time passes too quickly then! If I had a little more time and a little fewer hobbies already, I would definitely have a try at pottery – it looks like so much fun. Stephanie’s is also a little more quirky than the generic bowls and plates you might find at a craft shop. I talk to her about what it’s like to run a craft business….

The story of an artist – Sue Clyne

The annoying thing about having a stall at the New Forest Fairy Festival is that I never have time to have a good look around everyone else’s! There are so many interesting creative people, and artist Sue Clyne definitely has a stall worth visiting. Her paintings are so interesting, I could stop and look at one for a long time! It was fascinating finding out more about her and her work….

The story of a log wood carver – Paul Rook

I’m often amazed at the patience involved in some crafts, and wood carving is definitely one of those. Paul Rook carves amazing-looking pagan Green Man faces into logs and they must take him hours! He told me more about what he does and how he started the craft….

The story of a wood carver – Martin at Lady Oak Wood

When I was a kid my Dad let me play around with a chisel and a piece of soft wood and I loved carving patterns into it. When I grow up I’d love to have another go! Martin from Lady Oak Wood tells me in this interview how he is inspired by nature and I totally agree – I love working with natural materials, including wood, and one day, when I’m not so busy with other things, I seriously would love to give wood turning and wood carving a proper try. It was interesting hearing more about it….

The story of a crystal crafter – Blackbird Beauties

When I was little and often went to Cornwall in the Easter holidays, I would always look forward to going to a particular shop in Padstow that sold crystals and semi-precious stones (now a bag and shoe shop) and I still have the three that I bought with my pocket money! I can completely understand why Catherine Wilson of Blackbird Beauties describes herself as “crystal nuts”. I asked her more about this, her handcrafted items and how her business came about….

The story of an entrepreneur – Vikki Herbert from baby sling company, Wrapamore

In the 1970s my Mum bought a baby carrier from Mothercare that was so good, she kept it in the loft until I had my own children. Everywhere I went with my babies strapped to my front, people asked me where I got it from because there was nothing like it on the market at the time. It was large enough to offer head support and keep their legs warm, when the only alternative in shops were tiny strappy things that did neither those things. The down-side was I did feel like a blue and white striped kangaroo with this big pouch in front of me. Occasionally at Glastonbury Festival I’d spot an Earth Mother with their baby in a sling and was envious of the style, but had no clue how to go about making or buying one. Thankfully for parents nowadays, you have websites like Wrapamore, who offer the perfect solution to carrying your babies with you. I asked Vikki more about her company….

Jane Mucklow – the story of the photographer

This is my interview with Jane Mucklow – a Sevenoaks and West Kent based photographer who takes beautiful landscape and flower photographs which are great for brightening up your wall or giving as gifts. She also does corporate profile headshots and product and marketing commercial photography. So if you’re looking for some beautiful art for home, or need some pictures for your business, do go and check out her website. Here we talk about what it’s like to be a photographer and run a creative business, and she offers great advice for others who would like to do something similar: Please tell me an overview of your business – what do you do? I love to capture the beauty I see around me in our lovely local landscapes (or wherever I go), from big wide-angle views down to close-ups of flowers, and anything in between. If I can get flowers into a landscape I’m extra happy! We have lavender farms, poppy fields and lots of bluebells near here which are always an amazing colour. I sell my photos as prints, canvases, greetings cards and calendars, through my website and at local fairs and markets, as I love it when someone wants one of my images enough to hang a copy on their wall to enjoy everyday….