2002 – 2018
ROTTERDAM HOUSE | BARON HOUSE | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
DTZ & PROPERTY INITIATIVES
In 2002 an empty retail unit had been empty for a number of years in the Washington Galleries Shopping Centre. I contacted Peter Bowden of DTZ and asked if I could take it on for two months to use as a Pop-Up Gallery. I saved enough money up to pay for the two months rent which they gave me a discount, installed lights in the ceiling, white washed the walls and and advertised for local Artist’s to exhibit in a temporary exhibition. They dropped their work off at my studio at the Washington Arts Centre, and I hired a van and installed the work. It was on for 28 days and I invigilated the space every day apart from Sundays.
Peter then asked me if I would supply Art work for their signature building on Newcastle’s Quayside. They had a curved wall which they didn’t know what to do with, so I commissioned a local firm to produce a hanging system I developed. This opportunity gave me a kickstart to Self Employment.
My Services included:
FREE SITE VISITS
I would come along and talk to clients and discuss what they want from my art rental services and produce visualisations with the Artwork in situ.
FREE INSTALLATION
I have had 20 years of experience in Art handling and curating artworks.
And built up a vast network of Artist's through my many projects.
NO SET-UP FEES
There was no admin charges or hidden costs, just one three-monthly fee per batch of artworks.
I organised Health & Safety and provided Legal Agreements between Artist and Client.
Portrait Competition:
I asked all the employees in the building to put forward their names to enter a free portrait competition. I asked Peter Bowden from DTZ to pick out at random three winners. I then commissioned local Artist Andy Sheridan to paint the three portraits.
We were included in the Business Section of The Journal.
