Recent Interviews

Terry, you have been a member of SEOS for a while now. How did you find your way to SEOS?
I first came across it about seven years ago when I visited Sue William's Open Studio in Northiam and saw the  SEOS logo. I decided to look into it. At that point I had only just started painting.  I had spare time on my hands and painting was a way of filling it and, I hoped, earning some money. I hadn't painted since my training. I did four or five pictures, framed them and then took them to the Campion Art Gallery in Rye and asked Tony Campion if he thought it worthwhile continuing and it was his encouragement that spurred me on.

What was your training?
I went to Ravensbourne Art College and did a Graphic Design Course. It was at the Bromley centre in those days and ran courses graphic design and television.
I always did little bits of illustration if needed by a client, but never anything anyone would want to hang on the wall.

How did your first Open Studio go?
We decided the house was big enough for me to open, so we put boards up in the house. It was quite successful in that I sold some, but I really enjoyed meeting people and chatting during the two weeks. My professional life tends to be rather solitary.
Next year I am going to share the studio with a photographer who has never had an exhibition before. It will help us both. I can get out to see other studios during the two weeks and he can put a toe in the water. Also two artists in one location will bring in more visitors I suspect.

So now you have a fabulous studio with a loo and kitchen?
In 2006 we took down an old garage and put up the new studio. Before I worked in the basement of the house and all I could see were feet. It has made opening for SEOS much easier. I sell cards and prints and plants as well now. Most visitors go away with something. Sometimes they ask if they can walk round the garden which amuses me. It makes it sound as though we have a grand estate.

Have you always worked the same way?
Yes, small detailed oils of rural subjects. I paint from my own photographs. I take lots of photographs and often compose the final image from two or three by manipulating them on screen. I then paint the image. It wouldn't suit everyone but I like to know the final composition is going to work. I very rarely abandon things half way through as the planning has already been done on screen.

I can see you have prints on the studio wall. Do you edition your work because it takes so long?
Yes. I limit each print to an edition of 100.  I feel it's worthwhile. I now have a portfolio of about 35 prints in small editions at the moment. I sign and number the front. On the back I put the information about the giclée print processes and how to look after them. They should be fade resistant for 75 years if mounted under glass, kept out of sunlight and in a sealed frame.

How did you get involved in SEOS committee work?
Paul Williams who is the Website Officer lives close by and knowing that I am a graphic designer asked me if I would be interested in applying. It is rather ironic really. I started painting to fill in my spare time and that lead to the SEOS Guide Editor post which has greatly reduced my spare time in which to paint for SEOS!

What is a Guide Editor?
Well, I start now in November sending out 500/600 invitations to artists past and present to show again the following year.
Artists can join in December and January and I collect their information from our database and create the entry that will appear in the Guide. Membership closes on January 31st and all the entries have to be collated into pages and areas that make up the final Guide. My work includes dealing with the ads, maps, photographs and index as well.
I then send each artist their entry to approve and by the end of March all has to have been proof read and be ready to send to the printers.
Then I can start doing some painting!
Last year we started giving a discount for early joiners. In previous years many artists left it to the last week in January and it proved a problem getting the Guide ready on time. Last year it was so successful we are offering an early bird discount again.

Do you have any advice about the images?
Generally the images have improved over the years but the problem of receiving images which are not shot straight remains. We have the ability to correct it to a certain extent with clever software but as your image is the visitor attraction in the Guide, artists must make best use of the space. They need to think about getting maximum impact out of that square.

Can you tell us about being an Associate Member of SEOS?
Yes, for artists who can't exhibit that year but wish to remain connected to SEOS and receive the SEOS information or don't have their own website remaining an Associate Member is a good idea. If it had been available I would probably have taken it up in the years that I didn't do SEOS. I would have added images and copy to my previous years Guide entry and made it my own little website. I could have used it to direct queries to when asked for my art website; which I didn't have then.

Thank you Terry for your time and for all the hard work which I know is only just starting for you his year. I hope you find the time to paint enough work to fill the studio!

Franny Swann.

If you would like to be interviewed for the newsletter and website, please contact the Chairman