With a background in the art world, including an early career in London, Caroline went on to launch her own art gallery after returning to Scotland. After swapping city life in Edinburgh for the Scottish Borders, she recently started a new business, Tweedhill Antiques , reflecting her lifelong passion for antiques.
This December, Caroline is also holding an exhibition at the historic Duns Castle. Borders Artists at Duns Castle opens on 6 December and will feature the work of ten local artists, including paintings, sculptures, wood and stone carvings, and a curated collection of antique furniture. We are delighted to be sponsoring this exhibition at Paton & Co, and we’re looking forward to seeing Caroline’s selection of artworks and antiques showcased within this incredible building.
We caught up with Caroline recently to chat about her new business and her love of antiques, and about life in the Borders, where Caroline also grew up. As she says: “The Borders has always felt like home.”
Thanks so much for chatting with us Caroline. First of all, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I have been working in the art world since I left university. My first job was working in a contemporary art gallery in Notting Hill selling large-scale abstract paintings and prints. I was instantly hooked. Stints at Bonhams and Christie’s followed before I decided to move back home to Scotland and set up on my own. In 2009 I launched a contemporary art gallery in Edinburgh called Art Amatoria (The Love of Art), putting on exhibitions in various locations around Scotland and taking part in art fairs throughout the UK.
Art Amatoria came to a natural end when I left Edinburgh for the Borders and I have now launched my new venture, Tweedhill Antiques . The business will focus on paintings, furniture and collectibles from the 17th to 19th Century, as well as a curated selection of contemporary works of art.
Guessing you can do your job from anywhere, what led you to live in this area?
I grew up in Duns and the Borders has always felt like home. We loved living in Edinburgh when our two children were small, but ultimately we wanted them to grow up in the countryside as I had done and the pull of the Borders was just too strong. After a long search for the perfect home, we found a house near Berwick with enough space for dogs, chickens and children. An outhouse has been turned into a store for antiques and a derelict garden store has become a study.
You must come across some beautiful and unusual antiques – do you have any collections or items that stand out?
My husband and I both work in the antiques world and have come across many unusual and fascinating items over the years, including a jade elephant, a bed supposedly belonging to Henry VIII, quirky early Victorian tourist souvenirs and many other collectible items. Often the most fun pieces aren’t necessarily the ones with the highest value but those with an interesting provenance or backstory. I particularly like a figurine of the Johnnie Walker ‘Striding Man’ that was used in early advertising campaigns. Clarice Cliff wall masks from the 1930s are also a favourite as they are unlike anything being produced today.
A side project that I’m particularly excited about is The Ski Room , selling vintage skis and memorabilia. We both love skiing and there is something very appealing about wooden skis and poles and vintage posters advertising ski resorts from the 1950s. My personal favourite is an Art Deco clock with skiers and mountains surrounding the dial.
Searching for an elusive or hard to find work of art must be very rewarding but also quite challenging?
I love finding the perfect piece for a client – the more challenging the better! There are many auctions happening all over the country and often the smaller auction houses have the most unexpected items, usually coming from house clearances. It’s always amazing what people find in a forgotten corner of an attic. I also love the feeling of going into a tiny antiques shop in a sleepy town and coming across something interesting. The piece I am asked about most is a rather ordinary but vital item of furniture: the perfect farmhouse kitchen table. Everyone wants one and they very rarely come up for sale!
What impact do you think living and working in this area has on your business?
The Borders has some beautiful countryside including rolling hills, rivers, beaches and woodland, and has always attracted creative people. There are many wonderful artists, sculptors and craftspeople living and working in the area who inspire me with their talent and vision. I have found Borders residents to be very engaged and receptive to anything to do with the arts and it is wonderful place in which to base a business.
What does a working day look like for you?
My days are varied, which is just how I like it! I am lucky that I can work from home most of the time but am often out and about visiting artists or auction houses. We have two dogs, a cocker spaniel and a labrador, and they are always demanding attention. I find I do much of my best thinking when I am out for a walk along the banks of the Tweed or on the beach. If I am seeing a framer in Berwick, for example, I always make sure I stop off on Spittal beach to clear away the cobwebs. For proper downtime I enjoy making jams and jellies from the fruit in our garden and pottering in the vegetable patch.
Where do you most enjoy escaping to when you’re not working?
We are blessed with many gorgeous beaches on the Berwickshire coast and you can’t beat a windy walk on a beach with the dogs. We particularly enjoy parking at Cheswick and exploring the sand dunes; we walked almost to Holy Island and back recently and didn’t see a soul. Another favourite is Cove, a pretty crescent beach that is accessed through a dark and rather scary tunnel. There are old smugglers’ hideouts tucked away that are only accessible when the tide is out.
Northumberland also has lots of places to visit and we have enjoyed fish and chips at Amble, getting lost in the maze at Cragside, and exploring the coast at Craster.
Can you share some of your favourite local businesses with us?
I recently discovered The Green Shop on Bridge Street in Berwick, which is packed full of artisan delights from local craftspeople and farmers. Bridge Street also has the amazing second-hand bookshop Slightly Foxed, Atelier restaurant, and RoJo , an antiques shop run by the extremely knowledgeable Roland and Jonathan.
There are lots of fantastic caterers in the area who can produce menus for intimate gatherings or large-scale events. Clint Lodge near Melrose is highly recommended, as is newly launched Celtic Catering in Eyemouth.
Flying the flag for Duns, I have had a few delicious lunches in the Jim Clark Bistro (definitely worth a visit after going round the excellent Jim Clark Museum) and Il Toro Pizza . The Black Bull in Duns is shortly to be reopened after an extensive renovation, and a new gallery called No 31 is putting on several exhibitions a year.
From a creative perspective I can highly recommend Hutton Stone for stone carving and Neil Fyffe in Selkirk for woodwork.
What are you working on at the moment and what’s next for you and your business?
I am very excited about my forthcoming exhibition of Borders Artists at Duns Castle in December featuring ten local artists. There will be paintings, wood and stone carvings, sculpture, and some antique furniture on display. Duns Castle is a fantastic venue in which to show art and antiques and there will be something for everyone. I am delighted that Paton & Co will be sponsoring the exhibition and supporting local artists.
Finally, if you were to describe your dream home what would it look like?
My younger daughter has always wanted to live in a tree and I think that sounds pretty fantastic. I’m imagining a staircase twisting up the trunk of the tree with bedrooms on either side, treetop walkways connecting to the living areas, and a slide to get down.
Explore the collection on Tweedhill Antiques .
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