Piece of cake for Pontefract business

LIFE IS SWEET

FOR PONTEFRACT BUSINESS

Richard with jacket You could say it’s a piece of cake for the Pomfret Gallery on Pontefract’s deliciously named Liquorice Way!

They’ve been Yorkshire’s premier picture framing specialists since 1987 and art is most definitely in the blood – with founder Chris Pennock (alongside his wife Linda, but now both retired) a renowned land and seascape artist and still in residence.

Since spring of this year, the business is now headed up by son Richard (above), who’s been soaking up all of mum and dad’s knowledge and experience for the last 12 years. And as the younger generation it’s been Richard who has driven their phenomenal online growth, with over 25,000 regularly engaged Facebook followers and highly visual Instagram reels also taking off in the last few years and delivering quality leads.

E-commerce route

He explains: “I guess I was an early adopter of the e-commerce route to market and it especially took off at the start of lockdown and spread our fan base far and wide, so we now ship all over the UK. Our free Visualiser service has also helped as we can superimpose our pieces onto blank wall photographs supplied by the customer and it gives context and helps makes the decision for them.

Richard says that while timeless black frames still make up 60% of their orders, metallics are currently in demand, as are minimal and flatter frames. Colourwise it’s the pastel shades currently dominating home interior trends that are in vogue. His latest favourite Larson-Juhl collection is the new Coastal Woods floats, which is going down a storm with customers and artists alike.

“Additionally, since fully re-opening again we’ve been super busy with customers old and new who prefer to see their art up close and personal, so we really do have the best of both worlds. We have the area’s largest selection of picture frame mouldings at over 500 pieces and the staff who take your framing order also look after your picture from start to finish - and customers do appreciate that extra personal touch.”

The Protector by Hamish Blakeley

3D framing

Over the years they have become Yorkshire’s leading business for sports memorabilia and 3D item framing - regularly mounting sport shirts, guitars, boxing gloves, medals, bridal bouquets and baby shoes to name but a few.

A recent commission was the ‘golden’ boot of Spurs striker Son Heung-min, thrown into the crowd on the last day of the season and snapped up by a Pomfret regular, while the skins and sticks of Elvis’s drummer D.J. Fontana was another challenging but rewarding job.

Pomfret Gallery also has two floors of original art and limited edition prints which can be purchased online with free mainland UK delivery. Many are extremely valuable (such as the likes of Damien Hirst) so Larson-Juhl’s conservation products come into their own.

Leading artists include urban visionary Craig Everett, rising new floral talent Tina Earnshaw, plus fittingly – as Richard is a fellow

football supporter – Danny Abrahams, whose unique paintings hold a special and varied tribute to Leeds United’s history.

Hawk Fine Art Publishing

Their artistic pedigree has additionally led to the launch of sister company Hawk Fine Art Publishing, as trade suppliers to galleries across the UK and representing an exciting collection of talented artists. They strive to bring bespoke and quality, original products using real wood frames and art reproductions on the latest printing technology.

Feature artists they represent include the highly acclaimed human figure muse Hamish Blakely, stunning new Swedish talent Malin Ostlund and local portrait specialist Adrian Hill, most recently famous for his striking Peaky Cover star Danny Abrahams is a self-taught Yorkshire artist. He was a late comer to the art world after his girlfriend bought him his first set of paints at the age of 32. But painting helped Danny fill the creative void he was missing after no longer playing in a band.

Born in Bradford in 1977 Danny remembers his childhood during a carefree time of innocence filled with fun, adventure and playing out till it got dark. Danny certainly captures this feeling through his work. Danny Abrahams said: “Growing up in the eighties, I’m from a generation of kids who ‘played out’… Use your imagination and fall into my world, where summer holidays last forever and snow falls so deep that it goes over the top of your wellies. Never stop dreaming.”

Blinders collection and appearing on Sky Portrait Artist of the Year. Hawk Fine Art is proactively on the lookout for emerging artists and strives to give them the platform they deserve within the art industry.

Richard adds: “The name for the new business came from my wife, Hayley, who is a keen birdwatcher and when heavily pregnant managed to attract a sparrow hawk into our kitchen. The next day our beautiful daughter Annie was born and we saw it as a sign – making Hawk her middle name and the focal point of our other special and personal journey. It’s all about keeping it in the family after all...”

35 years of the Pomfret Gallery Left - Richard (aged 6) and father Chris Right - Richard and son Seb (age 4)

https://pomfretgallery.co.uk/ Instagram @pomfret_gallery Facebook @pomfretgallery