Peter Hancocks editor,
Picture Business
Contents
Intelligence
Quality, not
News: Both on and off the wall 02
quantity Art Fair Europe: Rainer Helbing interviewed 16
Spring Fair: The review 18
Despite the worst winter weather for with them on an original basis supplying
Gallery
many a year and a credit crunch that framed originals to galleries. He said:
was beginning to bare its teeth, the “We’ve been going for 30 years and
Iconic art: Still in vogue 06
vast majority of exhibitors at Spring Fair everything that we do is original. Footfall
The UK & Wildlife art: Artist Pip McGarry determines the market 10
experienced a trade over and above their at the show has been down not only
Animal Art: On hoof and pad, wing and fi n 11
conjoint expectations when all things were because of the weather but also because
[eventually] considered and is proven by of the current fi nancial climate and all
Natasha Barnes: A South African at the Fair 17
the undermentioned who represent a fi ne galleries and suppliers are going to have
New products: On the wall 21
cross section of exhibitor and give a fair to cut their collective cloth accordingly.
Melissa Mailer-Yates: The story concludes 22
feel to both the event and its eventualities! Artists are going to have to paint better
Mark Prince of Chantry Fine Art told me and maybe a little slower to meet the
that they are a print distribution company demands of the current situation. I think
and represent a number of overseas people will have to look more towards
Workshop
publishers as well as a number of UK original artwork as is evident in terms of
based self-publishing artists. He said: “We value. In fact to my mind people have
New products: Off the wall 27
operate predominately in the price points been doing this for the last two years.”
Pete Bingham: Agonises as ever 28
of the open and limited edition prints with The artist Joanne Wishart of Wishart who
Brian Wolf: Multiple opening mats 30
a RRP of £150 and under.” was exhibiting in the ‘Artist’s Quarter’ told
He continued: “We supply ranges into me that she works mainly on coastal and
Cutting: A highly contested area 32
gift shops, garden centres as well as the rural based wildlife subjects. She said:
traditional gallery and framing market. “I’ve got originals that I’ve nearly sold
We can also offer framed product. We’ve out of, limited edition giclee prints and
Interactive
seen a lot of existing customers at the hand-fi nished cards as well. This is my
show, but not too many new ones. That fi rst time here and I’ve had a lot of interest
Blank Canvas: New talent discovered 26
said, we are an established business and in the originals and the prints are trickling
have been exhibiting here for a substantial through as well.”
Framing Competition: Winning entries 36
number of years. It could be that at the In conclusion then, Spring Fair proved not
moment they’re not many new people so much of a ‘White Out’ but more of a
coming into the industry. In either event, ‘White In’!
we’re happy and we’ll be back next year!”
Stephen Peet of Picture Hanging Systems Free parking at Spring Fair
told me that they were a specialist ‘picture
hanging systems business’ offering Emap Connect. Organisers of Spring Fair
solutions to a very wide customer base. International (SFI), has confi rmed that car
He said: “We offer a cost-effective and parking at the show will remain free for
stylish solution with a lot of fl exibility for future shows.
hanging a huge variety of pictures. What’s “It was clearly a mistake,” said new MD
been interesting is that when the weather of SFI, Louise Young, referring to the
is bad, as we’ve experienced here, the attempt to introduce parking fees at the
people who have come along are serious show in March this year. “We clearly
11 Watching and Waiting - J Paul 22 Katie Melua
buyers and any conversations have a underestimated the importance of free
great deal more signifi cance to them!” parking at SFI, which is why we worked
Neil Stand of Framing Engineer.com so closely with the NEC to offer free
told me that the company had been parking at this year’s show.
This edition’s cover:
in business for about nine years and ‘At Emap we’ve spent thousands on
Photographic artist Deborah Benbrook
specialise in technical support for all visitor research but found that the issue
advised Picture Business thus: “This is a
#6:*/(
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"35 March/April 2009
forms of picture framing machinery. He of parking didn’t rate highly on people’s
photograph of the ruins of Whitby Abbey,
said: “We only specialise in the picture agenda’s – probably because it had
North Yorkshire. The image was taken on
framing industry. We support the likes of always been free. But clearly free parking
a bitterly cold day with a biting wind and
Cassesse, Morso and Alfamachines, in is imperative at SFI.” threatening black clouds. The grounds to
short virtually every brand of machinery Young also confi rmed that Emap had the Abbey were closed, so I walked around
available and kept very busy most of the paid the costs of providing free parking in the perimeter wall. For a few moments the
time.” March to the tune of £190,000. sun came out and lit up the Abbey yet it
He added: “We can also complete The issue of car parking fees for SFI
still had the menacing black clouds behind
modifi cations to existing machines. We was raised when Emap renegotiated
it, which added to the drama. My husband
support all the major distributors, yet there its tenancy contract with NEC. Other
lifted me up so I could see over the 5ft wall
are still people around who haven’t heard exhibitions at the Birmingham site routinely
and this was the best shot out of 15 before
of us. All in all we’ve done very well at the charge for parking to cover maintenance
the sun went back in!”
show. I’m happy!” and service costs and it was felt the time
Tel: 0113 2633757
Intelligence Gallery Workshop Interiors Interactive
Ian Carr of Darryl Davies Fine Art Ltd told was right for Spring Fair to fall into line.
email: info@deborahbenbrook.com
me that the company represent between However, protests from exhibitors and
www.deborahbenbrook.com
30 to 40 artists at any given time dealing visitors alike forced the u-turn.
[Also see the Blank Canvas section of this issue].
picturebusiness 1
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