Meet The Maker – Cat Brown

Cat Brown – Ceramicist

Cat is a designer and maker of beautiful hand built ceramics inspired by plants and nature which feature the imprints and textures of flowers and plants that she grows in her garden and also finds on her walks about the South Coast of England. 

Close up of the detail on Cat’s ceramics

Cat has a huge love for the natural world and is constantly on the look out for nature’s textures and colours that inspire her range of gifts and home decorative ceramics.  She also loves to experiment and tries unusual processes and the use of recycled glass has now become somewhat of a signature in her work.

Small platter – Cat Brown

All of her work is individually hand built stoneware using a mix of techniques such as slab work, pinching, coiling and direct modelling. The joy of these processes, though much more time consuming is that every pieces is truly unique and individual.

Curved Platter with chopsticks – Cat Brown

Her new range of tableware is inspired by exotic cultures and far away lands which explores the concepts of mixing beauty and form with complete function. All her tableware is 100% food safe, dishwasher proof and microwavable. 

Love Plate – Cat Brown

What drew Cat to making with clay was the strength and permanency of ceramics. Her pieces will look as good now as they will in a hundred years’ time. 

 

Meet The Maker – Ellie Ingram

Ellie Ingram – Jeweller

When I first met Ellie this April at BCTF she was the one jeweller that stood out for me as her work was whimsical and different … no concave or convex studs on her stand!

Dream Cloud silver necklace

Ellie was showcasing three exclusive collections, taking you on a captivating journey through fairytales, bohemia, miniatures and music and Heart Gallery now has two of those collections in … we are saving the MUSIC collection for Christmas!

Toast silver necklace – Spread The Love

Every piece is designed from scratch by Ellie and then handmade with intricate attention to detail using traditional silver-smithing techniques.

Love house silver ring

Intimate and uplifting designs echo Ellie’s life passions, everything from toast to techno inspires her whimsical, beautifully crafted jewellery.

Don’t Worry Be Happy silver ring

Taking inspiration from everywhere she goes, through her jewellery she tells a story and hopefully becomes a part of yours too. 

Little Fluffy Clouds silver stacking rings

Betsy silver necklace with carrot!

Heart loves Ellie’s work but we are suckers for the whimsical after all!

Toast silver bracelet – Spread The Love

Meet The Maker – Nicola Hurst

Nicola Hurst – Jeweller

Nicola Hurst, designer and maker of contemporary jewellery, has been hand making jewellery professionally since 1995, having completed a Jewellery BA (hons) degree in 1990 at Middlesex Polytechnic.

Silver Diver Cufflinks

Here at Heart Gallery we love Nicola’s new Iconic Collection – it’s the perfect gift for that special person in your life who loves to wear symbolic jewellery.

Silver Love Cufflinks

Each piece in this stunning collection of figure jewellery is individually cast in solid silver before being polished and hand finished by Nicola. Including gorgeous cufflinks for men and exquisite pendants for women, the Iconic Collection is a joy to wear. Whether you’re marking an important relationship or acknowledging a much-loved hobby, the Iconic Collection is for you.

Silver Woman With Attitude necklace

Nicola’s other ranges incorporate silver and gold with precious and non precious stones in some pieces, and simply silver or gold in others. All Nicola’s jewellery is beautifully elegant, contemporary and easy to wear. The inspiration for designs comes from Nicola’s fascination of architecture, clean and simple lines and her love of making the jewellery. New collections are frequently produced as well as many one-off pieces and commissions undertaken so take a look at her other pieces here.

Love isn’t love until you give it away

Whilst researching for the new displays for the run up to Valentine’s Day it got me thinking about love of course so here is a little blog post of things I love that are now in Heart Gallery for you to love too …

Bear Hug – Julia Ogden

Original pencil drawings, giclee prints and cards based on Love, Friendship and Support by our very own super talented Julia Ogden.

‘And on’ partnership pair of silver rings with diamond

Diana Porter’s jewellery range includes her signature ‘and on’ partnership rings, ‘and on’ bangle and ‘I who is you who is I’ set of silver bangles.

close up of detail on the notebook case

Fabulous leather pieces concentrating on music lovers and bookworms by emerging local artist Rod Boyes.

Kindred Spirit

Andy’s etched glass work was a hit at Christmas and we are so chuffed with his new pieces. Perfect for homemade drinks such as damson gin, lemoncello vodka but these lab bottles work really well in the bathroom for shampoo and conditioner too.

Silver and 9ct gold heart rings

Karen’s popular silver and 9ct gold heart range now has a cute little addition of these rings.

Silk Scarf digitally printed from a hand-dyed original design

Sarita’s Reminiscence Collection of floaty scarves and lavender filled pouches and eye-masks will make a lovely gift not just for a Valentine but for a Mum too as Mothers’ Day is not that far away.

Ethical recycled silver jewelery

Ali’s ethical jewellery is inspired by her love of dancing and the dynamic lines of movements she creates whilst dancing.

Ceramic Hearts (can be personalised)

We love Laura’s ceramic hearts and they are certainly the perfect little love token at this time of the year. Our personalised service includes bridal favours matched to the wedding colours where possible with the wedding date stamped on as a great keepsake.

Ceramic Hearts (can be personalised)

And there you have it, a little snippet of new pieces we love and hope you love too….Love isn’t love until you give it away.

Speaking of love, I can’t end this blog post without an image from Kate Lycett though. A customer sadly lost her Dad recently and with a little bit of money he left her she really wanted something that reminded her of him and where he lived so every time she looks at this she will remember the years filled with love that they spent together:

Waterfront – Kate Lycett

Meet The Maker – Live event in Heart Gallery Sunday 11th November

Well, this is an idea of mine that has been on the back burner for quite some time now so I am really excited to announce the first live Meet The Maker event in the Picture Gallery! Many of you are enjoying my Meet The Maker series here on the blog … I know because I check the stats … and this was always going to be the next step it just seems to have taken longer than I thought! So … this Sunday 11th November you can bob into Heart Gallery and meet Kate Lycett!

Kate Lycett

We were super excited to launch Kate’s new original paintings last week along with limited edition prints of her new and much loved older work but Kate was busy looking at London through the magical eyes of her 6 year old daughter so she couldn’t join us. But this week … she can!

Valley Gardens – Kate Lycett

Cold Snap – Kate Lycett

So come along to Heart Gallery Sunday 11th November between 2pm and 4pm for a chance to chat to Kate about her work, her inspirations and her love of Hebden Bridge … and have a cup of tea too!

Cheers my dear – tea in our Picture Gallery with local artist Kate Lycett

Meet The Maker – Julia Ogden

Julia Ogden – Artist

Julia grew up in Yorkshire, where she spent her days playing in her parents’ garden and the surrounding countryside. She drew all the time and still does.

Hares – Julia Ogden

Heart birds – Julia Ogden

Julia studied a BA Hons in Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 1999. She then went on to do an MA in Sequential Illustration at Brighton University. The work she produced during her studies was mainly print-based and she often made artist books.

Collage – Julia Ogden

Birds – Julia Ogden

She began painting after University and this is now her main passion. Julia’s paintings are exhibited throughout the UK, including Heart Gallery of course,  Bluemoon Gallery, Tunbridge Wells, Janet Bell Gallery, Anglesey, Portland Gallery, Richmond, Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford, Harrison Lord Gallery, Brighouse and The Design Shop, Deanclough, Halifax.

Bear Hug – Julia Ogden

Her new collection of artwork is on paper using a combination of pencil drawing and acrylic paint. She has been inspired by nature and comforting themes such as friendship, love and support. She hopes that her paintings and drawings brighten up grey days with warm colours and motifs.

Winter Birds – Julia Ogden

Julia is a valued member of staff at Heart Gallery so we are always really proud to showcase her work in the gallery whatever it may be … from greetings cards to framed originals, canvases or prints Julia’s work always puts a smile on our faces.

Elly – Julia Ogden

And we know it will make you smile too so see you soon x

Star Birds – Julia Ogden

Thank you Mum x

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

Meet Sarah Mason

Sarah Mason - Photographer

Meet Sarah Mason, a local photographer who delivers high quality wedding and portrait photography in Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Yorkshire, the North West and throughout the UK. Photography is her passion and creating beautiful images is what she is about!

Matt and Sarah at Todmorden Town Hall - courtesty Sarah Mason

You will quickly recognise that photographer Sarah has a unique talent for seeing life through a lens differently. Thanks to her background in film and television, Sarah brings a cinematographer’s approach to her work and her reportage style of photography and filmic view of life always leaves the viewer wanting more.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Whether it’s a stylish wedding

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

an intimate family portrait

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

or a precise packaging shot for a commercial campaign

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Sarah never fails to capture the very essence of her subjects.

image courtesty of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Living as she does in the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge, Sarah capitalises on the dramatic landscape as the ultimate backdrop for her distinctive brand of photography that celebrates the great outdoors.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Despite the advance of the digital age, Sarah explains our enduring love affair with the printed photo: “When I look back at family photos from my own childhood, they still have a powerful emotional impact, a kind of visual time travel that transports me back to the day it was taken. These images endure when everything else changes.”

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Her delighted clients will happily testify that Sarah creates bespoke images that will stand the test of our time and surely become heirlooms of the future to hang in pride of place on the walls of the generations to come.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Sarah will be at Heart Gallery Sunday 12 February 2012 for our third Wedding Exhibition to show you her previous work and chat to you about your special day and what story-telling moments she can capture to help you keep the memories of the happiest day of your life alive, for you and your children, and even the generations to follow.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Sarah’s approach is to quietly allow your special day to unfold before her cameras, minimising her impact on the event, and so resulting in photos that buzz with energy and emotion. 

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Her connection with the couple often outlasts the wedding and she is always proud to be able to build on that bond when she is asked to photograph new bundles of joy or capture other key moments in a family’s intimate life.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

As no wedding is ever the same, Sarah has created her wedding packages carefully to ensure there will be something to suit everyone.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

You can choose from pre-wedding shoots, personalised save the date and thank you cards, a photo disc, a slideshow DVD and a number of different options for showcasing your photographs. It’s important to Sarah that she supports local suppliers and her wedding albums are handmade to order by Calderdale based, Butterwick Wells. The albums are of the highest quality, available in a variety of fabrics and finishes and tell the story of your wedding beautifully.

image courtesy of Sarah Mason, Zebra Photography

Catch up with Sarah’s news on her blog and do come along on Sunday to meet her – she is a star.

Sarah Mason - Photographer and all round good egg x

‘I DO’ Heart Gallery’s third Wedding Exhibition

This Sunday, 12th February, we are launching our third Wedding Exhibition ‘I DO’ and it will be a jolly lovely day for all if you want to bob along between 12pm and 5pm.

I DO invite 2012

The jewellery and work we have this year is outstanding and includes:

Romantic photo etched jewellery by Amy Keeper

Vintage inspired Ivory Garter woven by Lauren Crawford

Silver butterfly jewellery by Kimberley Selwood

Stunning daisy ceramics by Julie Miles

Interesting silver, glass and crystal jewellery by Charlotte Verity

Great ceramic gifts and favours for the wedding party

Tanya's unbelievable leather tiaras

And if that’s not enough to tease and tempt you also with us on the 12th we have various lovely local people to chat to about their services and what they can offer you on your special day:

Sarah Mason - local Wedding Photographer

Nia Fiori - her love affair with stationery will make your day special and unique

Jacqui Sharples - letterpress printer - is bringing along one of her vintage presses to show you how she will be able to create your bespoke piece of wall art

Come and chat to Rachel from Truly Scrumptious Tea Parties about her fabulous food for weddings and civil partnerships

Sunday promises to be a splendid day and you can pick up your A5 Wedding Guide from Kerys who will be with us from The Wedding Guide UK, chat with the lovely Susi from Gibson Mill about this fabulous National Trust venue right on our doorstep, chat to us about the launch of the brand new Town Hall in Hebden Bridge in June, which is now taking bookings for Weddings and Civil Partnerships in their fabulous new Waterfront Hall, and immerse yourself in the whole Heart Gallery experience. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday and hope you can join us and enjoy a glass of fizz whilst browsing the alternative wedding jewellery and gifts on show.

I DO invite 2012

Love is in the air ♥

It’s that time of the year again when we’ve finally reached January payday, after a very long month of juggling finances, and we can think about buying a Valentine gift and/or card for our loved one.

Here is a little snippet of what has arrived at Heart Gallery recently for you to drool over whilst looking for that perfect piece alongside some of our lovely Valentine cards by local makers:

'Love Matches' limited edition A5 screenprint by local graphic artist Andy Pointon. Exclusive to Heart Gallery

Clare Mahoney's porcelain hearts are back in by popular demand

Sue Candy, local ceramicist, has made us a cute heart range which includes this ring box.

How about 'popping the question' with our silver and 9ct gold 'MARRY ME' ring?

'I'm In Love With You' limited edition A5 screenprint comes in a selection of colours

Some gorgeous love nest bowls arrived from Jo Luckstead this week

These framed ceramic hearts are so sweet, hand delivered by Sophie Steen this weekend

This oxidised silver bracelet with etched photo of kissing couples is truly romantic

'Just My Type' limited edition A5 screenprint - another winner by Andy Pointon

This gorgeous silver tied knot pendant is part of Jodie Hook's stunning collection we are showcasing for the first time at Heart Gallery

Sexy and stylish choice of Valentines cards by lovely lass Nia

If you know someone who loves birds then Sarah Dodd's textile pieces will make the perfect gift

Or why not keep it simple with a ceramic love heart?