Buying my own studio space
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It’s long been my dream to buy my own studio space and this has occupied my mind for the last 25 years since moving to Portland. I was lucky to start renting a studio just up the road from my home in 2007 and this small space has served me very well. Renting at the St Georges trust has been an amazing experience and allowed me to develop my work and business over the last 18 years. Even though the trust has supported and helped me I still longed to be able to buy my own place for the stability and the space.
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While on walks around the island roads I always had my eye out to see if there was a building that might be suitable to move to. This also felt rather desperate as I could not see how I would be able to afford anything? Over time I decided to let it go and to be happy with the space I had which was very small but still fabulous.
Coming to terms with loss to find the joy
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In March 2022 my father had become very unwell and after some tests we found out he had terminal cancer. He was a
full-time artist based in Newquay and a we had a deep and complicated relationship. As with many artists he didn’t cope that well with the responsibilities of family life so growing up I did not really see much of him. He died on the 12th September 2022 and so began the long uphill battle with his will. This was one of the most traumatic things I’ve ever had to deal with but it did mean that I actually had some money coming from my dad.
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One morning in January 2024 I went to post a letter in Straits in Easton, wow I couldn’t believe it an old shop was up for sale! This had been Pete’s Hardware since the 80s and had been empty for a good year. I ran round to the estate agents and arranged a viewing that very moment.
The position was perfect set back from the main road on a corner with only one set of neighbours at the back. As soon as we walked into the property I could see how bad it was, it had obviously been leaking from the roof for a very long time. The floor tiles were soaking wet and smelling from the rain coming in down the walls. The front and side windows were rotten and there was also no toilet which did cause me some worry. But I could see what it might be, what it should be, and with love, care and time I had a very excited feeling we could really make something special out of this rather sad looking Portland stone building. I went home thought about it and made my first offer.
​After several months of negotiation, I managed to secure the property and had my offer accepted, I was so thrilled and exchanged contracts on September the 2nd 2024. I wasted no time getting quotes for all the work that was needed and started the long process of talking to the Council, Building Control and the Conservation Department.
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Design & decoration decisions
I decided to split the space into two very distinct areas, the front would be my shop making use of the large window and the back part would be my working studio. I had decided to save money and to create a more authentic feeling to my shop space I would use upcycled second hand wooden furniture. Over a long period, I collected pieces which I felt would work well together and the shop furniture was slowly painted black with the studio furniture painted white. This took a huge amount of time and work but it meant that I managed to fit out most of the shop and studio for around £300 which is amazing.
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Money was very tight but with me and my partner Mark doing most of the work ourselves it allowed me to pay to have a new roof, a toilet installed and a new window fitted towards the back of the studio space, which was made to order by our local joiners. This new window really opened out the space and gave us a glimpse of how it could be.
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Mark was amazing and took on restoring the rotten front window and door frame. I learnt to point with lime plater, to use cement and painted, painted and yes painted. We installed new guttering as this had also broken and rusted away and replaced any broken window panes. I treated any wood rot with chemicals and wood hardener and I also had all the electrics redone.
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side view of my new building
what a sad state
awful plumbing
side view of my new building
my very own window display
back of ceramic dish
camellias in bloom
my very own window display
There were a couple of things I was very keen to have and that was a wooden shop sign and a swinging shop sign. Again after looking at finances, I decided with Mark's help to paint my own signs onto wood and I’m so pleased with the final feel. The front colour theme was brass and black with the shop inside being dark grey and black.
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I finally moved out of my workshop at St Georges at the start of Febuary 2026 and was so pleased to hand over my studio to my partner Mark. He has spent a a long time trying to work in his mum's garage and now he finally has the room to develop and explore his Screen Printing, find out about Mark's amazing screen prints here.
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I learnt so much over the last few years I cannot actually believe I am now sitting in my beautiful new studio and shop.
If your still interested in seeing more films and information on how we turned this old sad building into a beautiful studio and shop please have a look on my Instagram account .