The Uplifting Power of Art

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

Becky Smith's artwork always makes me smile as I love how she takes inspiration from nature and I’ve always been interested in the environment, animals, space etc. I also love her use of bright, vibrant colours in her work, those really speak to me and brighten my day.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

My goals for this year are to travel to as many places as I can, soaking in the sights and culture of the world to expand my horizons.
I also want to continue to grow and develop as many skills for my role at Wyecliffe as I can over the next year, to help the team reach our goals to bring our collectors the best experience possible.

3. How does art boost your mood?

Art boosts my mood because personally when I walk into a room I love to be surrounded by bright and vibrant colours, I find this can really enhance your mood and artwork is a great way to create that. Even on a classic British winter's day when the clouds block the sun and the rain seems to dull everything, the right artwork can transport you to such wonderful places.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

Amylee’s work always makes me smile as the colours, patterns and use of flowers remind me of my childhood, with the colours remincent of my grandmothers home in Morocco. Specifically my favourite artwork by her would be ‘Candy’, the subject is blowing bubble gum amongst a floral background which unlocks childhood memories of my time spent in morocco chewing Bubbaloo chewing gum.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

My goals for this year would be to keep all of my relationships with loved ones strong, attempt to learn Spanish, stay positive and improve my marketing skills, and always stay up to date with the latest trends!

3. How does art boost your mood?

Art boosts my mood as I believe it is important to have in your home, it is a way of expressing yourself and your personality in different forms. Art also has the ability to awaken emotions and add personality and spirit to any home.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

Lhouette's work always makes me smile as it's so colourful and fun, the different motifs and shapes are always really interesting to look at. If I had to pick a specific artwork it would have to be one of his collage-style pieces like 'The Luck Maker'. Like many of his work it has a playful nature to it, with the bold colours, unique embelishments and hidden meanings

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

My goals for this year are to stay committed to going to the gym and spending more time with my friends and family. Both knowing I am keeping healthy and being around loved ones always put me in a better mood.

3. How does art boost your mood?

Art boosts my mood as it can make a room seem brighter and more colourful on even a gloomy day. Artwork also has the ability to transport you to different places and gets your imagination going, lifting your mood with thoughts of the future or fond memories of the past.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

It’s so hard to pick from our amazing portfolio of artists as every single one has an incredible viewing experience to offer, though I am always drawn to Kerry Darlington’s ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’. Though inspired by folklore tales, I always imagine Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy when I see the little girl on the polar bear, some of my favourite books growing up. For me, this is one of Kerry’s amazing talents; her ability to draw powerful memories to the front of your mind no matter how old you are. These kinds of happy thoughts as well as planning the next book to read are definitely something that helps combat the winter blues for me.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

Of course! Personally, I love being active and try to walk most days plus go to Pilates classes twice a week; I am hoping by the summer to have started Reformer Pilates to take it up to the next gear and have some 20km+ hikes I’m keen to try!

Also this year I am feeling so inspired by our artists to support their artistic endeavours; I’m incredibly lucky to work closely with so many of those that we represent, and hearing about their ever more ambitious ideas and putting plans into action to realise them will continue to motivate me in the year! There are some really special projects on the horizon that will need a lot of forward planning, so I aim to deliver those as well as I can for our collectors.

3. How does art boost your mood?

I’ve lived and breathed art since I was about 18 and decided to study Fine Art at university, and my dissertation was on the huge benefits of Art Therapy. In the UK we are so lucky to have so many free public art galleries and outdoor art installations, not to mention all the great commercial galleries you can walk into. Whether it’s thinking about the inspiration behind an artwork, or simply drinking in the brushstrokes, it really unlocks my mind. There is no better place to start than by getting some art on the walls at home to lift your mood every day.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

I would have to choose 'Seashells' or 'Love on the Beachfront' by Michelle Smith. I love the way Michelle's usage of colours with the added textured elements evokes memories of my many visits to the ocean, which still to this day is my favourite place to be.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

My goal for this year is to aspire to be the best that I can be in all that I do.

3. How does art boost your mood?

Being surrounded by art is very positive for me as it makes me feel and be aware of a variety of emotions, whether that be happy, calm, sad, creative and so forth.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

I grew up watching movies like Star Wars and the animated Marvel shows so the memories that the whole Stan Lee marvel collection brings back never cease to make me smile. I remember having the Star Wars original trilogy on VHS so if I had to pick a specific artwork I would maybe go with 'Star Wars #44 - The Empire Strikes Back - Duel A Dark Lord'.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

The goal this year is to exercise more, luckily it's something I already do and enjoy. I also want to get out and do more social activities, something that after the years we have recently I feel we all need to make sure we make time for friends and family.

3. How does art boost your mood?

Abstract artwork, with all the different colours and shapes give me a positive vibe. I find that every time you look at them I can see something different. I find it amazing that your mind can uncover meaning in them, reflecting your own ideas onto something fluid and seemingly chaotic.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

I love lots of different types of art for different reasons. From whimsical/naive pieces such as Chris Chapman's "Lowryish" original and editions (which make me chuckle), beautiful interior-led work like Amy Magee's blue & gold compositions or Becky Smith's Cherry Blossoms. These ones make me smile as the colours/tonality is really calming to me. I think a lot of collectors believe the primary reason you should collect art is because of the 'collectability' factor - but to me, the most important reason you collect is that it makes you happy.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

I love sewing so I think a big goal for me would be to try and sew a suit - or something I can actually wear out in public.

3. How does art boost your mood?

I think when you find an artwork you love, as cheesy as this sounds, it really does become a part of your safe space/home. I recently collected an original by Jeremy Olsen that lives in my sitting room and when I've had a bad day etc. coming back into a nicely decorated home really makes the world full of difference. I read a study once that mentioned two big mood affecters within the home are, how clean your space is and how it's decorated. So art you love truly does help to boost your mood.

1. What artwork makes you smile and why?

My favourite artworks are those that spark memories or emotions, so I would perhaps pick a piece like 'Come Fly With Me' by Richard King. One of my main hobbies is landscape photography, so it reminds me of the many hours I have spent sitting by a loch in Scotland, just soaking in the energies around me. Veronika Benoni's work also makes me smile, it inspires me to see all the places depicted in her work and more.

2. Do you have any goals for this year?

My current goal is to spend more time on myself and my own journey. After all the lockdowns, I like many, spent a lot of energy seeing friends and socialising, this has meant my personal hobbies have taken a back seat. So this year I want to make sure I'm focusing on my hobbies, personal relaionships and both my physical and mental health.

3. How does art boost your mood?

I have always felt that when I have the right art up in my home or workspace, it can have a great impact on my mood. I find that even if you don't notice the art day-to-day if it were to go, you would really feel its absence. It can be as simple as having art that brings the colours together in the room and makes me feel accomplished in making a room look how I want, or artwork that brings up memories, even if they are sometimes sad ones. I stand by the belief that all emotions are valid and equal, so I try and be mindful and appreciate even if something brings a pang of sadness of something or someone lost.