Surrey Homes | SH23 | September 2016 | Education supplement inside

Karen Papworth and Patricia Hawkins
of the West End House Gallery
“Our philosophy for buying art is - if it speaks to you, that’s all
that matters. We have a range of works in the gallery and it’s a
kind of magic when someone falls for something. Whether it’s a
small ceramic or a big painting, it’s so special to see that joy.
One client was driving past the gallery and saw a painting in
the window. She came in two minutes later saying, ‘I don’t care
what it costs, I just have to have it, something just spoke to me.’
Our gallery is on a sharp bend in the narrow road through the
village. One time there was a combine harvester blocking the
road and there was a couple sitting in the car and the lady was
frantically pointing at a picture in the window.
Five minutes later they came running in saying, ‘We’ve got
to have that…’. They’d never bought a work of art, but it
reminded them so much of their honeymoon they had to.
You can’t persuade anyone to buy something, but you can
say: trust your own instincts, believe in your own tastes. It’s
not just about filling a gap on your wall, you want that special
connection and the memory of when you bought it, so the
experience you have in the gallery and the service you are given
is all part of it.
Another time a lady who lives in the village came in when
we had a one-person show and was really drawn to a picture.
She asked us, ‘Tell me why I’m drawn to this?’ She wanted to
be told it was OK, so I suggested we took it to her house to see
it in situ. We put it where she’d thought of hanging it and it
didn’t look right – then we took it into another room and it was
perfect. and within a couple of days she’d bought it. \
Since then she has bought another painting by the same artist
and is clearly feeling much more confident with the process.”
Flame Garden by Karen Birchwood at West End House Gallery
West End House is a contemporary gallery in the beautiful
village of Smarden showing a wide range of original artworks,
including paintings, prints, ceramics, jewellery, glass and
textiles, with inspiring work, at all prices.
West End House Gallery, Water Lane, Smarden, Kent, TN27
8QB west-end-house-gallery.co.uk 01233 770261, 07710
898843, or 07900 957042 Open Thursday through to
Monday, 10 - 5.
Gold Coast 7 by Mark Godwin at Rye Art Gallery
Jane Fenn, director Rye Art Gallery
“People should never be intimidated by entering an art gallery.
Everyone has a right to see art and share their opinions.
Galleries these days are inclusive and educational and provided
the staff are welcoming anyone should feel comfortable and
enjoy immersing themselves in the world of art.
Many of our customers collect a particular artist’s work. It
will start with the buyer taking the plunge on a particular
piece and taking it home where they find they really enjoy
living with it - or wearing it.
Something speaks to you on a non-verbal, aesthetic level
and before you know it, you have three pieces, which is a
collection, or the start of one.
People who buy art for investment are gambling on long
and short odds and outsiders. Historically there have been
favourites that have commanded large ticket prices and sold
hugely and then dropped out of fashion for ever. Equally,
rank outsiders have suddenly been discovered and the prices
have skyrocketed.
Our advice is to buy works of art because you love them
and no other reason. There are no sure bets – although it’s
a good tip to buy the art that other artists buy as what is
going to be big is not always obvious to the untrained eye.”
Rye Art Gallery has around three shows and two to three
visiting exhibitions each year. As well as fine art, both local
and national, we sell jewellery, crafts, sculpture, ceramics,
glass, prints and craft furniture.
The gallery also has a permanent collection of national
importance that is rotated in our upstairs gallery. It includes
work by Edward Burra (1905-1976), who lived locally.
Rye Art Gallery, 107 High St, Rye TN31 7JE 01797
222433 ryeartgallery.co.uk Open 10.30 to 5 Monday to
Saturday, 11 - 4 on Sundays.
wealdentimes.co.uk
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