New Open House, The Wattle Tree House, shares thoughts on creativity, family and a giant glitter ball
Hi Emma – This is the first time you have opened your house. Have you taken part in AOH previously?
I run a graphic design studio in the Laines and we held an AOH there a few years ago. At the time we had a few illustrators renting desk space from us and we opened up the studio to sell prints and illustrations. Since then I have made the move from graphic design to fine art via a fine art MA at Brighton Uni, so this time will be quite different.
How did you select your guest artists?
Four of us are recent graduates so we know each other from uni, we all do wall based art, so we asked friends Claire and Kay, to join us. Their works are 3D, Claire makes mobiles and Kay does ceramics, so they will compliment the wall works nicely and fill the space all the way up to the ceiling.
Paintings – Emma Scott-Child
Was it important that some of your artists are young artists and recent graduates?
Yes, we are in the process of starting out as post grad artists, so every bit of exposure and exhibiting space is welcome. We are all becoming fine artists after careers in other areas and raising families, so it’s a nice confidence boost to finally have work on display that we may be years in the making.
Also, my kids will be showing some work too. My daughter Frida is 12 and she has done a textile wall hanging and my son Elliot, 14, will have some drawing on display too.
Would you like to tell us a little about yourself and about Junction Studio and Ladyland?
I am creative director, of Junction Studio along with my husband Tom. We have been running our studio for 10 years and work mainly in packaging and retails branding. (If you’ve been to Pets Corner, you will have seen a lot of our work, they are our biggest local client). I also run another business called Ladyland Press on the side, which started as a craft blog, then became a best-selling kids craft book during lockdown (Quick Crafts for Parents Who Think They Hate Craft), now it’s a stationary company (ladylandpress.com). I make calendars and wall planners for busy families – this was born out of my need for an aesthetically pleasing wall planner to keep us organised and it has grown to become a cult favourite.
Beccy Bloomfield
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity is in everything we do as humans. Making anything, even a sandwich is creative. I think it’s so important to be a ‘maker’ not just a ‘consumer’ it’s the reason we’re all here. I always feel at my best when I’m scheming a new creative project… sometimes 5 at once. It’s addictive.
Beccy Bloomfield
Tell us about your disco ball!
Our giant disco ball is my best second-hand fine ever. We bought it from a wedding venue that was closing down in Brixton when we lived there. Unfortunately it was too big to fit through the door of our Brixton flat, so we had to keep it at work until we moved to Brighton and got a doorway big enough to fit it in. It is now the centrepiece of our kitchen discos.
What are you most looking forward to and hoping for as a result of doing an Open House?
I’m looking forward to being a part of the Brighton artist community. This is such a strong city for creative pursuits and there is a really supportive network of creatives who build each other up. It’s a really great way to feel a part of something bigger, yet still close to home.
Visit The Wattle Tree House at:
14 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, BN3 6ET
No.19 on the Seven Dials trail