A few months ago I was approached by Photobox (Europe’s leading retailer of personal and personalised products) to curate their first ever ‘Artists Collection’. Art has always been a love of mine and something that I have taken great interest in. I haven’t necessarily got a huge collection but the pieces that I do have are very special to me. They were either commissioned by us or simply purchased from somewhere in the world that we have visited as a reminder of our time there. This felt like a really good opportunity to use my industry knowledge and passion for art to create a personal and yet commercial collection. As art is a big part of my shoots, I felt that I had something to offer from a stylist’s point of view as well as I’m asked time and time again by people; “where can I buy affordable art?”
On beginning the collection, I looked at all genres including art for children, travel, nature and modern art. I had to really ask myself why I thought each piece had a place in my collection. What I have learnt is that I definitely have a love of modern art and also a painterly illustrative approach to works.
Once the collection was finalised (after a lot of editing!) we set up a shoot at my house where I styled three separate rooms within my home (Jo Henderson photographed the collection), this included; the hallway, living room and a younger more youthful set. We then decided which picture fitted in to each scheme (you see from the images below the different sets). By doing this, we hoped that it would allow you to see how a painting can come alive once it’s in situ. When you visit the site, you will need to click ‘Artist Collection’ you then click on any of my curated images (Classic art is not part of my collection) and it will show you how the piece looks in my one of the rooms in my home.
Sometimes it can be hard to say exactly why a piece of art captivates you; it could be the colour, the composition, the subject matter, or all 3. What I do know is that I like Laszlo’s formulaic and simple design, the use of shapes and composition, combined with his calming pallet. When we positioned this painting in my hallway, it seemed to fit perfectly. I loved the way the black line mirrored not only picture the frame but also the table it sat on. It felt like it was meant to be there. Hanging art in the hallway or entrance to your home is a great way to add some character, style and personality to your home.
A bit about the artists: Meet László Moholy-Nagy: this Hungarian painter, photographer and professor in the Bauhaus school was born in 1895. A remarkable artist, educator, and prolific writer, László experimented across mediums, testing the limits of art and technology. He was a true innovator, with camera-less photographs, use of industrial materials and his experiments with light, space and movement. Moholy-Nagy’s first abstract paintings featured simple, opaque geometric shapes. And ‘Construction’ is a prime example.
This flamingo painting by Jane Peart simply makes me happy. There are so many things I love about it. Primarily, the way Jane has managed to capture the suggestion of a lovely moment with a flamingo entranced by its own reflection. The beautifully painted water creates a sense of calm and her choice of colours are striking, especially against the deep green wall of my home. With the trend for darker paint colours in the home, colourful pieces such as these, will look really impactful.
A bit about the artist: Meet Jane Peart: she was born in London and studied illustration at Ealing School of Art. After working as an illustrator, Jane took up printmaking 18 years ago and now specialises in copper plate etching. She says, “I love the challenges that are created in printmaking. The medium of etching enables me to achieve both great strength of line and fine detail. This, combined with aquatint, creates a range of tone from black to very delicate areas giving huge scope in making my prints”.
On looking at art for children, Lucy Willis’s work really caught my eye. It steps away from simplistic art using primary colours to a more fluid and sophisticated style. I love the friendly feel of the animal’s captured in her beautiful and illustrative pieces. Being able to see her sketch lines and therefore her drawing technique, makes the pieces come alive, which is perfect for children.
A bit about the artist: Meet Lucy Willis: she won the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in 1992 for her portrait of prison inmates called ‘Her Majesty’s Pleasure’. Born in 1952, Lucy’s based in Somerset, England. She’s also published several art books, including ‘Sunlight and Shadow’, ‘Travels with Watercolour’ and ‘Light in Watercolour’
The human form has always fascinated me and all throughout my college years, life drawing played a big part. I think there was a sense of escapism when exploring the movement of the body through painting or sketching. Angie has managed to capture a quiet pose with just a few fluid brush strokes. I love the simplicity of the black ink as if it’s been taken straight from her sketch book.
Meet Angie Kenber: her work’s been described as ‘inspiring’, ‘uplifting’ and ‘joyful’. Her BA in Fine Arts at UWE Bristol was as a mature student, while bringing up three small children. Angie gave up a part-time job teaching maths to 10 year olds to concentrate on her art. Now she’s exhibited across the country. She says, “Inspiration comes to me as I live my life – glimpses through doorways, windswept trees, the coastline changes of mood. My paintings represent my emotional journey: how I feel about certain moments, and convey in paint the joy, calm, exhilaration and passion of life. I hope that they will ‘uplift’ you.”
I was really taken by Rebecca Campbell’s ‘Hot Air Rises’. I tried to imagine looking at it from a child’s eyes and it gave me a sense of fun and freedom. The truth is, I think it probably brings me as much joy looking at it now as an adult as it would have as a child. This print would be ideal for a Childs bedroom or playroom as it’s so fun and colourful.
Meet Rebecca Campbell: her delightful, enigmatic and highly imaginative paintings evoke a world of plants and animals living in their own contented universe. Extensive travelling has influenced her work, from Indian Mughal miniatures and Chinoiserie, to medieval tapestries. Add a vivid sense of design that instantly captures your eye – and it’s easy to see why Rebecca’s paintings are so appealing.
Whether you are an art collector or simply looking for a certain art style, I hope my curated collection will allow you to see how available and affordable gallery-quality art prints can be. The full collection is now live and can be viewed and purchased from Photobox
