For the latest in my series of creative spaces features, artist Fiona Brown very kindly invited me along to see her space at Wimbledon Art Studios
and suggested I time my visit to coincide with Open Studios weekend (12th – 15th May 2011) so I could also get a look those of her fellow artists.
In 1993 six artists started renting spaces in a paper warehouse, working alongside the paper business. Today, the original warehouse is known as the Red Studios and houses over 100 studio spaces including Fiona’s. The Blue Studios, pictured above, are purpose-built and house another 60 spaces. As some spaces are shared, that adds up to over 200 artists.
Fiona’s studio is one of the smallest; her desk is made from a canvas. She pays £200 a month for it, but with two Open Studios a year, the profits from the work she sells cover that. The studios are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which is helpful for artists like Fiona who aren’t yet able to make a living from their art, so primarily use the studios outside of normal working hours.
Sadly for me, many of the artists had had a good tidy up for the Open Studios event(!), but I did manage to find some really inspiring work spaces.
Bill told me about how valuable it is to be surrounded by other creative people; even when he has a studio at home he still intends to use his studio at the Wimbledon Art Studios to keep up the energy, inspiration and social life he gains from working here. And the diversity of artists working here really contributes to that.
Kevin Herlihy makes sculptures from what arts schools refer to as ‘found objects.’ He, refreshingly, calls his materials flotsam and jetsam and helpfully explained the difference between the two. (Flotsam is floating, whereas jetsam has sunk or been washed ashore.)
I was really inspired by Gemma’s studio – it’s full of unusual items and the gorgeous drawings and paintings that have resulted from them, all coming together into a gentle, vintage colour scheme that would be just as at home on the pages of an interior design magazine.
I love this selection of inspirational images Gemma’s put up above her desk – and also this fabulous array of fabrics and pictures above textile artist, Danielle Wood’s desk.
It probably seems silly to those surrounded by them every day, but I do get very excited about the tools of various creative trades.
I had a lovely time exploring the rabbit warren of studios at Wimbledon Art Studios, discovering lots of different creative spaces and getting some ideas about how to make a small creative space work.
You may also enjoy:
- creative spaces :: emma bond
- creative spaces :: ian lettice
- creative spaces :: anastassiades
- creative spaces :: bernard leach
- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190489404333134.41260.181947435187331&saved (more photos)
- http://www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk/
- http://www.swiss-miss.com/2010/05/join-our-studio-rent-a-desk.html
- http://martinkerrison.com/
- http://www.dr256.com/cobaltfinearts/
- http://www.billbate.co.uk/
- http://www.kevinherlihy.co.uk/
I am so excited I just came across your blog!
LOVE IT!
Please stop by and say hi! (www.itsybitsybrianna.wordpress.com)
xoxo
bB
Thanks so much for such a lovely, bubbly enthusiastic comment to start my Monday morning! xx
Darling, what can I say. I’ve barely had the time to visit your blog… *hangs head in shame* .
It’s ruddy brilliant, stunning photos from Wimbledon Art Studios and lovely write up. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Iain 🙂 It was so lovely to see you after such a long time! Take care – and hopefully see you soon. Katie x
What a lovely write up of our show. You certainly captured the personality of some of the artists. It is a great space for inspiration amongst all of us. Thank you for coming along and hope to see you in 6 months!
Thank you! I’m so glad you like the post; and thanks so much again for inviting me along – I really enjoyed it. K x
Hi there
Your blog has been passed to us at at Wimbledon Art Studios and what a lovely piece you have here! I would love to follow your thoughts. Do you have an account on Twitter? Please email me with your confessions!
Regards
Juliet
Juliet,
Thank you!
I do indeed; it’s @coadg – you can also subscribe to my blog for email updates.
I’m so glad you liked the piece – thanks so much for getting in touch.
Best wishes,
Katie
Hi Katie,
Fi passed on your blog to us yesterday, and we like it!! Yeah – at last some really nice person has written on the net sky about what it was like to visit the show…YIIIPPEE
I’ve been showing there for 4 years – this time I showcased Sew-Together – a pop, social, local sewing club – around Wandsworth – we like to meet in pubs/cafes – a bit like those knitting ones but sewing! You’d be welcome to come along
I’ll get back soon to see your next confession!
S
Suzanne,
Thank you for the lovely comment! What a shame we didn’t run into each other at the event – I love the idea of Sew Together! I am the world’s worst seamstress, but I’ll have a go – I shall check out your website for details of the next event.
Take care,
Katie x
Who is Gemma Fripp? You don’t way anything about her here. Nice work.
Rich,
Thanks for the comment – her work is gorgeous, isn’t it?
This post was really about the artists’ spaces rather than the artists themselves, but a quick google search uncovered this page: http://www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk/artist/gemma-fripp/, which might be of interest, if you want to find out more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment.
Katie