Arts
I
am meeting Becky at her home in Torquay where her art studio and despatch office are both located. The place looks both artistic and highly efficient with specially constructed shelves holding her beautiful and highly recognisable, vintage style travel posters and seaside prints. Members of her team are kept busy despatching online orders and fulfilling requests for the 50 or so outlets where her work is now on sale. These include the National Trust and various shops and galleries right across the South West. But outside her creative work, which she loves, Becky is juggling a home life, caring for her three children and her husband Matt. Her home is delightful – a huge open plan kitchen and dining room, beautifully but informally decorated in the muted, soft colours she favours and overlooking a spacious garden. You can just tell that home life is relaxed and enjoyable here. Becky tells me, “Our favourite thing is family time. You have to grab it and make it happen as life can simply take over.” With Twiggy, their retriever, the family can simply pop out at a moment’s notice for a walk or outing. They will often grab a thermos and a picnic or put together a simple barbeque for the beach and off they go. Becky says, “We love to be self-sufficient and spend the whole day out with no extravagance; we love the simple things in life and make the most of where we live.” Becky and Matt moved to Torquay in 2001 when Matt joined his family business. Becky had previously worked as an art director for an advertising agency in London drawing conceptual ideas for campaigns for clients like Cadbury’s, Guinness and Coca Cola. She won a major award for Best Ad Campaign in 1999 (for Guinness) and was rising high in her profession. Then she met Matt and as she explained, “My heart pulled me away.” They married and Becky tried to keep a focus on her art but eventually with three young children to care for she
englishrivieramagazine.co.uk
August/September 2016
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