Wirral mum follows her art dream by opening new studio

Feb 10 2010 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

HOYLAKE artist Jo Smith has brought up her children, explored silversmithing and is now determined to make a success of life as a full-time artist.

The mother-of-two opened her Seagrass Studio in Hoylake last April, combining commercial gallery space and support for local artists with art classes and her own practice.

Jo told Wirral Arts: “I always wanted to do it.

“I trained as a primary school teacher and then did all sorts of other things to avoid teaching, like silversmithing.

“I had my children, and once they were old enough, set my heart on doing what I wanted to do.”

The result is an intimate space packed with well-priced original art pieces and jewellery, combined with a working studio at the rear for Jo.

The path began three years ago when Jo, encouraged by friends, started selling at craft fairs, before renting studio space at Carr Farm and Burton Manor.

Now she plays host to work from around 20 locally based artists, stocking everything from glassware to hand-painted scarves, photography and fine art.

Jo said: “There’s an absolute wealth of creativity here in Wirral and I really like to showcase a lot of artists’ work.

“I look for things I would like in my own home, for quality and for quirkiness as well.”

She describes her own work as “quite eclectic” and likes to make use of textural materials, like sand from Hoylake or West Kirby beach, to deliver depth and a level of abstraction in her work.

Seagrass Studio can be found at 9 The Quadrant, Hoylake. A special exhibition of Valentine’s Day related work runs until February 18.