I never thought I’d get to have a Solo Show, until Val’s idea of ‘walls for a week’ was introduced. Something I had only dreamt of, so when the opportunity arose, I was quick to submit. So excited to be accepted and my name for the Show came instantly ‘A Garden… on a Plate’

It was a joy having my own Show right in the heart of Hay-on-Wye and being able to do as I wish, I had the hang all planned out in my head of how I wanted it to look. As I learnt from Val, my random hang had an actual name ‘a salon hang’. It was great to meet Val in person and her wonderful daughter Kate.

As I didn’t live nearby, Hertfordshire in fact, my husband Tony and I decided to treat it as a working holiday and decided to stay in Val’s self catering accommodation ‘The Atelier’ which was absolutely fabulous only a stones throw from The Chair Gallery.

Arriving late Sunday afternoon, we were able to park the car outside the gallery to unload. We were met by the delightful Jess who showed us around. At this point my name wasn’t on the window, but after about an hour when I returned, there it was. It was a special moment indeed, I felt like I had finally arrived as a professional artist, something I had been pushing towards. This opportunity really does help Artists to get noticed.

Hanging the exhibition was quite straightforward for me as I had already planned it in my head and also I had my helper, Tony. Loved the fact that the Gallery had two different colours on the walls, white and charchoal grey which both complimented the art and created a different vibe. There were a few crumbling walls, Tony did fill (he doesn’t mind a bit of filling)! My only tiny criticism… I think the person you follow should sweep the floor, I found it quite dusty, but I wouldn’t necessarily complain, just swept it myself. A feather duster would be good for the window area.

Collaborating on IG was a great way to get noticed and my name on the window was professional. The brief impromptu interview with Val was great fun.

I decided not to have a private view as I thought being too far away from home I couldn’t really invite my friends and family, although it was lovely to see some old neighbours who came to visit specially. So my PV was pretty much every day which was a lovely touch to welcome visitors. I opened Tues-Weds 10-3pm, Thurs-Fri-Sat 10-4pm, I was going to open Sunday, but as we had a long journey, decided against it. It was great to choose your own opening times and be flexible.

Visitors were some days slow and steady and other days busy, all different ages. Everyone that came in said such complimentary things which was lovely to hear, I think my favourite was from a gentleman that purchased a piece of my art and summed my work up as ‘sublime’, such praise to boost my confidence. I had some sales every day, lots of cards, my arty recipe books, small and large artworks, I was truly blessed. Even after the Show, I had a lovely call from a young couple who with their friends had clubbed together to buy an expensive piece of my art for a friends birthday.

The facilities were great, everything you needed.

Taking down was so quick and easy and as it was early Sunday morning, could park right outside to load up the car. Filled holes, touched up with paint, Tony would have liked a little roller, he would have done the whole wall!  Bag up own rubbish and sweep the floor, ready for the next collaboration.

To sum up… It was just FAB x