Fresh Art Fair, Cheltenham
Lotus chosen by the organisers for the main entrance at Fresh Art Fair.
Setting up Thursday before the Private View. Thank you if you visited our stand, it certainly was busy!
Wednesday before the fair I took down the exhibition at The Square Club in Clifton, Bristol. At times like this you need to hire a van! Quick turnaround at the studio and drove several of the larger paintings up to the venue. Back to Bristol, set up for North Somerset Arts Week and packed the car again for the trip up to Cheltenham the following day.
If anyone wonders what artists do all day I can assure you this is not typical but creating an art business is 50% business. I first visited The Fresh Art Fair last year with an artist buddy, Susannah Crook, and remember being really impressed with the organisation and standard of art exhibited. Roll on a year and after months of planning I exhibited with artists Sharon Harvey (also gallery owner), Jessica Dunn and Heidi Nguyen under The Sanctuary Gallery banner. Whilst the majority of exhibitors are galleries from the south of the UK plus a few artist collectives our situation was a little more unique with all the artists present.
Joy of Life Sold at the fair to a new collector. Fresh AF also sent this image in an email advertising the fair to all their followers on the Friday 27th April.
We met some fantastic new collectors, visitors, artists, family, and friends….
I am delighted to report that we had many sales and that I sold seven paintings from my current series of work, The Rainforest Series, which are now in their new homes. Highlights of the four days? Definitely one was being able to deliver ‘Joy of Life’ and two smaller paintings from the white series to a new collector near Gloucester on Sunday morning. To create work from our own experiences and memories, for that work to connect with someone else and to see where the work in its new home is a joy to behold!
Other highlights? Exhibiting with such talented artists, meeting so many interesting visitors and gallerists, meeting new collectors of course and having the support of family. This is something I am not so used to after exhibiting overseas and I can promise I never take it for granted.
Thank you to The Sanctuary Studio & Gallery, Sharon, Jess and Heidi, to Sam and Steve for their support and to everyone who visited us!