Bright new beginnings
Above: Sunrise over the pier
QUITE by accident Frances Hale became a photographer – but having stumbled on this new passion it has drastically changed her life and the lives of her family.
‘About five years ago, my husband bought me a point and shoot camera,’ says Frances, ‘and I just began taking photographs.’ Then one day when she was out taking photographs of the surrounding area Frances came across a lovely old Tudor house where she saw a sign advertising a barn for rent. Thinking this would be a great place for her own photographic studio, she took a look inside but when she saw the space that was available she decided it would be a fantastic place for an art gallery and studio.
‘It’s a 200-year-old barn with oak beams,’ says Frances, ‘it has a wonderful atmosphere and great character.’
A family affair
Calling on the help of her husband Graham and daughter Sophie, they set about transforming the barn into Frances’ vision and two months later, the Hale family opened the Copper Beech Art Gallery. ‘We had to completely renovate the inside,’ says Frances, ‘and put in a new floor but all the hard work has paid off.’
Now filled with the work of 14 other artists, many of whom are local, the Copper Beech Art Gallery is becoming the talk of the town or, in this case, the village of Little Wymondley and to encourage clients to make the most of their visit, Frances has recently set aside a small café area too, where coffee, tea and cakes will be served. ‘We have found when people take the time to visit us that they do stay for a while so being able to offer some refreshments in addition to the art makes sense,’ says Frances, ‘added to the fact that we are in a rural location.’
Help for students
Those who do visit will see a varied collection of artists’ work from sculptures and ceramics to stained glass, as well as many different paintings and pictures and some of Frances’ photographs. The gallery charges a hanging fee – an 8ft by 4ft board costs around £20 per week – and the artists can hang as many pictures on that board as they can fit. But the gallery also offers a free board to students, where they can exhibit for up to three months rent free. At present the gallery is showcasing the work of a young student from Oaklands College in St Albans.
The gallery has an eclectic mix of stained glass paintings, acrylics, oils and watercolours with abstract works, portraiture and other subjects, with a varying degree of styles. Frances is also encouraging artists who haven’t shown before and is keen to promote new talent.
Overall the gallery is light, bright and atmospheric – Frances is keen to keep the ambience relaxed and informal allowing clients to browse at their leisure and enjoy their experience and the environment. And with the artwork ranging from £40 to £1,500 a piece, she hopes to attract a broad range of clients.
And then there is her photographic studio, which Frances uses for taking photos of family groups, individuals and pets. Again, she likes to keep her work and her clients relaxed and informal while meeting their requirements.
Article taken from January issue of Hertfordshire Life