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The The tradition tradition of of Britain’s Britain’s social social classes classes and and
hierarchies hierarchies within within society society remain remain as as part part of of the the long-lasting roots of it’s heritage. We explore long-lasting roots of it’s heritage. We explore the the contrasting contrasting attitudes attitudes evoked evoked by by all all facets facets of of conflicting social circles in the UK. conflicting social circles in the UK. Diversity Diversity is is at at the the heart heart of of British British culture. culture. Traditions Traditions such as the races are where individuals who such as the races are where individuals who celebrate celebrate different different lifestyles lifestyles come come together together to to indulge in our heritage. Undercover, we capture indulge in our heritage. Undercover, we capture the the eccentric characters of the Yorkshire races. A lady eccentric characters of the Yorkshire races. A lady draped draped in in satin satin ruffles ruffles takes takes aa sip sip of of her her champagne champagne whilst a man dressed in Fred Perry and overalls whilst a man dressed in Fred Perry and overalls tucks into drizzling burger.burger. tucksa into a drizzling
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Rasa
After graduating from Vilnius Art Academy with a Masters degree in Art and Design, Rasa met her husband Nick and moved to Newcastle from Lithuania 16 years ago. Rasa paints vibrant, expressive art from her home studio. Presence
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Photos and words Annabel Carden
Rasa welcomes me at her front door with a beaming smile. Her hair cascades past her shoulders effortlessly and she exudes an aura of calm with a gentle mother-like nature. As I step inside, her home has a warm peaceful atmosphere as pastel colours cover the walls. Displayed upon a few of them with timeless character are pieces of her artwork. As we sit down at the kitchen, Rasa sits opposite to me in a navy and white striped shirt and mustard jeans. Her colourful look is brightened more so by the beams of sunlight escaping from her ethereal garden. “What began your passion for art?” I ask curiously, Rasa looks deep in thought as she takes a long pause. “I have always had a deep interest in art and drawing. In Lithuania our schools approached art and creative subjects differently to how institutes do in the UK” she replies, “It was structured differently and I was heavily involved
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with art throughout my education. After obtaining my Masters degree I tried more commercial roles.” Intrigued by Rasa’s straight-forward outlook with art, I try some more personal questions in relation to her pieces. “Your work has a very positive and vibrant aesthetic. Does your art reflect the ways in which you view the world?” “My style is very contemporary, I tend not to over think about what I want to create. I love the feeling that colour gives me and it is something that affects everyone. You can’t escape colour because it is everywhere and it speaks to people.” Rasa’s studio exudes a playful yet minimal aesthetic. Pale yellow walls are adorned withcoloured illustrations whilst multi-coloured paint splatters coat the her table. Music CDs line the windowsill next to mason jars holding paint
brushes. There’s a fresh, calming atmosphere to the room inspired by the colours. A few of Rasa’s paintings that she admires are hung from the walls, including watercolour silouhettes from life-drawing classes. “What key messages do you try to convey through art?” I wonder. Rasa appears to have not thought about this before as she portrays the relaxed attitude of someone who lives in the moment. “Happiness is my simplest answer. I just want people to feel emotionally positive and I love creating a feel-good factor. Art is all about feeling.” She replies with a content smile. “It’s rewarding when people enjoy my work because I use art as a means of projecting myself. I believe that’s how I make a statement these days. It is so important that you nurture your talent and learn how to commercialise it, so that you feel content with your work.” Read the full article on folkio.com
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As the seas pleat and the daylight grows dark,
the lighthouse keeper begins their duties. Sailors at sea depend on their guidance as their ships creak and lean through the darkness. Each ship, yacht and fishing boat host their own stories and crew of eccentric characters. In children’s tales they sing and dance and drink merry rum, in reality they are unwearied workers with wind-beaten faces and oil smeared hands. Endless stories hidden beneath endless waves, all carried by the ocean with triumph. A watchful tower now stands empty, with its past echoing within its lifeless walls.
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Peter & Joy
Dabbling within various artistic disciplines has led married couple Peter and Joy to their passion of fused glass art. The team of two bought a kiln and cabin to work out of their home in Lincolnshire, crafting one of a kind pieces. Presence
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Upon my arrival at Kirkharle Courtyard, I am greeted by vast fields of sheep and young lambs. The courtyard surrounded by woods and peaceful countryside is home to a dozen small businesses owned by artists and craftspeople. There is a calming air of peaceful escape humming from the courtyard that lets you truly appreciate distance from the city.
explains Peter. “but we wanted to be able to make money from it and grow it into a business and not just a hobby, so it was hard work.”
I enter the spacious yet colourful gallery of Joia Glass, owned by Peter and Joy Cole who have also been business partners for over 12 years. Joia comes from the Portuguese word “Jewel”, a nickname which Joy was given in Brazil where she was born. As I pass through to the back of the gallery to their workshop I am instantly greeted by the warmest of introductions. After offering me a drink and finding me a place to sit, I began to unpick the brains of two talented glass artists. “We found our love for glass art when we took a two-weekend course after we fancied something new”
“We did a lot of experimenting with different techniques and types of glass to see what works together and attending trade events to get ourselves on the market. We had our first show in Leicestershire.” As we talk, customers casually appear in and out of the workshop in a curious bid to see what goes on behind the scenes. “We enjoy making individual designs because it makes it much more special for the client.” As I peer around the room, their workshop is decorated by illustrations, pieces of new projects, and polished art work ready to be picked up. Small lights bounce off of the coloured glass ornaments laid on a shelf, which draws my attention to some vibrant patterned lamps. “We do sell some really commercial products, but we also enjoy making more abstract pieces too” Joy explains. “A couple of our more abstract pieces were broken but then we formed them into
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new pieces. They develop a new meaning.” “Since you decided to start a business together, have you experienced some difficult learning curves?” I ask them. “Yes, but not as many as I expected” replies Joy with an amused expression on her face. “It works for us because we share the same goals and interests in the business.” she continues, “but you have to be disciplined and know when to seperate work from your personal life together, it is good that we have the studio for work and we can drive home at the end of the day.” Joy continues to introduce pieces of work to me that have been created using various techniques and types of glass. I can see hundreds of shades around the room taking form of scenic views or patterned colour schemes. Large beams stretch across the ceiling and natural light pours in from multiple windows. Their workshop has a constructed, rustic feel yet it is a calm, creative environment. There is also a heavy sense of nostalgia coming from the numerous decorations of past project, including some of Joy’s illustrations.
Some of the difficult things that you have to learn about is sourcing materials and learning about glass. You have to know what types of glass can work together.” “We started off selling at various trade fairs but now we prefer meeting and choosing which galleries and art suppliers sell and showcase our work” explains Peter, “Once we had made enough profit to run our business full-time, we felt that it was important to sell your work to buyers who you can have a healthy relationship with. We want to know that galleries showing our work share the brand vision as us”. Joy adds “It was difficult starting out even though we did small inexpensive shows because you end up wearing yourself out. Trade shows were less successful so they took more of a toll in terms of planning and preparing and not making much money in return.” “Yes and by then we began researching and driving out to potential sellers about stocking our work” agrees Peter, “we didn’t want to flood the market and we wanted to ensure that our work would be presented how we envision it ourselfs. Patience is vital when starting out your business, you have to be prepared for some things to not go according to plan.”
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“And how do you envision your work?” I ask. “We love experiementing and playing with different styles and materials to create more abstract miniature sculptures” replies Peter, “I enjoy using materials such as wood a brightly coloured glass to create a mixed media effect.” “That sounds really intriguing” I reply, “ I love how sometimes a piece of art can be created accidentally, whether it becomes broken or disfigured and the result is something beautiful. I can make a piece more special.” “And it teaches you to be versatile and adapt to various situations” agrees Joy. “I don’t understand why there is still a stigma that science and art should be seperate, because really they’re the same thing.” says Peter, “You can create one without the other”.
Read the full interview on folkio.com
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One of the oldest silver screen picture houses
in the UK resides in the heart of Newcastle. A rich history of cinematic experiences lies within the walls of Tyneside. From presenting showreels and fashion shows as one of the first news theatres of the 1930s to showing classic contemporary films Tyneside exudes character. Today, the theatre is not bursting with daily sounds of joy or tearfulness. Laughter does not echo around the rooms, and the vintage velvet armrests gather the settling dust. Watch for a single minute, whilst the theatre merely echoes the emotions of generations past.
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Describe a home without considering the sense of warmth. Empty, secluded, hollowed. The unwelcoming presence of an empty home exudes a dreadful aura of loneliness and solitude.
A single light illuminates a hallway, a bedroom, a porch. Doorways may as well be sealed beneath a thick coating of cement. Fog descends upon a damp evening, dimming street lights to a pale glow. The heavy air accentuates shadows lining the street causing them to blanket over everything in their path, muffling the sound of feet against pavement.
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George
After studying Fine Art Sculpture at Sunderland University, George discovered his passion for decorative ceramics. He hand crafts ornate 80s inspired ranges from his garden shed with a focus on pattern and texture. Presence
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I arrive at George’s home on a beautifully bright day. His street is lined with fresh green trees which send cascades of soft shadows across the road. He answers his door with a warm smile and his dog, Monty in tow. We sit in his backgarden, a perfectly maintained space filled with shrubs and flowers which all perfectly frame his garden shed from which he works. “Why did you choose ceramics as your profession?” I ask curiously. “I was taught it at school and carried on the craft during my 0 levels. However, at art college I discovered that I didn’t like pottery and I did fine art for a while instead. One of my jobs after studying was at John Lewis where I created graphics for the brand. Eventually I got bored of that and tried a pottery night class, which is when I rediscovered my skill and enjoyment for the craft. “Have you found that ceramics is your passion now to
follow for the remainder of your career?” I inquire. “Yes I believe so, I have been doing so for 25 years now selling to both shops and galleries.” George replies. “Did you find it difficult to grow your business when you started out?” I ask. “I was actually quite lucky, because my career began in the 80s which was when it was a good time to sell pottery. Cermaic art was sought after as a popular form of decoration for the home. I only work in wholesale now though as I thoroughly enjoy creating ranges of designs.” says George. “Is there a particular person who has inspired and motivated you in your profession?” “I attended Potfest some years ago, which is a fair and it was a really nice occasion because I got to network with other artists which made it a really supportive community to work within. Meeting artists there expanded my contacts and we could all support each other, we still do.”
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We enter George’s workshop inside the shed at the back of his garden. The exterior is surrounded by purple flowers with an air of calm and welcoming.
glazed and painted. “What advice would you recommend to a creative who wants to work for themself?”
Inside the workshop, colourful ceramic art lines the room. Some are from previous projects, some have been created as part of a new order for a client. Some of the ceramics are simply the result of experiementation. I notice a cluster of miniature glazed heads and torsos. “Were these for a client?” I ask with curiosity.
“You have to be disciplined if you decide to work for yourself, especially when your home is your office” he exclaims, “you have to be prepared from the start to work long hours whilst making barely any money. The perseverance does pay off though if you put the work in. Go out and meet as many artists as you can in your field, and maintain confidence in your work” he advises “and the results will eventually pay off”.
“No, actually they were a part of something new I decided to try one day. I fancied playing our with moulds and crafted something a little different. They have actually become quite popular commercially. So I may make more work that is similar to those and delve into abstract pieces and ceramic sculptures. He takes a seat at his workstation and begins to shape a plate as part of a request by a client. I watch as he wets the mould and reshapes it with his hands. Within just a few minutes a plate is crafted, ready to be dried,
“Where do you find your inspiration, do you ever struggle to become motivated to create something new?” I ask. “I find inspiration in everything, sometimes an idea can appear in my mind quite randomly. Sometimes an idea will reappear from years ago and I will use it to influence my next design.” Read the full interview on folkio.com
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The beauty of youth echoes throughout our
lifetime. Individual characters light up a room as their energy vibrates between the walls. A lighter sparked causes stars to fall to the floor. Flames lick at the dust and sticky substances on the tables. The blaze jumps eagerly to graffiti vandalising bathrooms stalls, to velvet VIP curtains and alcohol soaked floors. Paint flakes from cheap furniture as the flames stretch towards the sky. Ash, fallen walls, and collapsed bathrooms lean against one another. Now only the shadows dance.
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Darren
From his home studio, self-taught artist Darren paints dreamy, surreal landscapes and “other worlds” which provide escapism for the viewer. Darren’s “Hilton” work defines his aesthetic, which aims to make the spectator smile. Presence
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Arriving at Darren’s studio, I am greeted by a large smile, a cup of tea, and a plate of cookies. Darren is an artist who studied graphic design before turning his hand to painting. Nowadays, Darren works from his sudio in his home where he lives with his wife and two children.
“Yes I would certainly consider my Hilltop town as being the heart of my work. Those are the paintings which I am most often recognised for.” “What have been some of the most difficult learning curves that you have had to overcome?” I query. “I would say finding your niche and getting your brand out there. Working for yourself means having to find unique ways to make yourself stand out, that is why USPs are so important. Some of the hardest lessons to learn is to not take it personally when someone does not like your work. It is simply a matter of taste, it does not reflect you as an artist.”
“What messages do you try to portray through you art?” I ask Darren. “I don’t really try to make a big political, social or economical statement in my work. I like to make people feel happy with my Hilltop town collections alongside other pieces.” Darren replies. “You certainly make a strong impression with the surreal, dream-like scenery your create.” I reply, “I like how you have managed to create an entire world from the simple idea of houses on hills.”
He picks up his paintbrush and makes a few delicate changes with simple brushstrokes to a canvas. His workspace is clean, minimal and full of sketches from previous work and future ideas. Canvases both large and small line the room, with miniature sceneries encased within the frames.
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“Have you ever found your profession to be too stressful and have considered trying a new job?”
“Does art serve a purpose for you?”
“No, I mean there have been times where I have struggled to get my work into a particular gallery and at the start of my artistic career it was difficult getting my name out there. But it’s the same for everyone, no one is special but you find those customers who really take a shine to your work and in their eyes, your work is special” he continues, “there is no better feeling than when a customer responds to your work with such praise and positivity, it inspires me to keep going.” “Do you have any advice for artists starting out in the feelancing industry?” I ask. “Persevere, simply keep going. It is also important to maintain confidence in your work and what you create. Don’t be afraid to adapt to what your customers request as well, for example if they want a few changes making to a similar design you have created previously.”
“It’s rewarding to see customers appreciate my style of work. It’s also very enjoyable because I love my job and I feel lucky to do so. I was dissatisfied during my 4 years as a graphic designer even though I don’t actually mind working for people. I feel very grateful that my passion is also my job, it sounds cliche but it doesn’t really feel like work and I would advise that to anyone. Find your calling in life, create your own niche and run with it. ” “
Read the full interview of folkio.com
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Laddered fishnet legs and Palace sweaters
cavort about the room with less than tasteful rhythm. Clumsy bodies unknowingly knock into one another carrying bright bottled spirits. The heavy base beats the humid air that smells of clothes stained with sweat and sour liquor. Continuous blinding flashes of neon bounce from the walls as they light up faces who can’t keep their eyes still. Young couples embrace with less than subtle tenderness, grabbing at each other’s sweaty shirts tied around their waists. Others dance alone, lost in the music with blank expressions gawking at the rapper spitting words down his microphone.
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