Situated in the heart of Berwick-upon-Tweed, 27 Art House is a shop, studio and gallery space created by the Northumberland artist Amy Izat. The shop offers a carefully curated collection of pieces that, as Amy says, “promote a healthy, holistic, positive and mindful way of living” while offering visitors a calm space to browse away from the bustle.
For Amy, it was always important that this space was more than a shop. As she says: “Having a studio where I can interact with others is just amazing for me and very stimulating.” Amy held her first workshops in the space in February, enhancing the sense of community that also reflects her ethos here.
But Amy’s story is so much more than this. In 2014, Amy’s life was changed following a brain haemorrhage that affected her eyesight, and this was followed by years of treatment, setbacks, recovery, and adapting to life as an artist with impaired vision. Amy has written about her experience and her artistic journey in her first book, A Different Kind of Vision.
We caught up with Amy recently to chat about her art, and the inspiration and ideas behind 27 Art House.
Thanks for chatting with us Amy. We are big admirers of your art and it’s a delight to be able to feature your work here. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you live, and what led you to become an artist.
I currently live above my shop/gallery in Berwick-upon-Tweed and have lived in Northumberland since birth, with time away at school in Scotland and University in Oxford (Oxford Brookes), Falmouth and Salisbury. I have always loved art and was always the subject I look forward to most at school so it wasn’t hard to decide to study it at university. I did a foundation in art, and then my first year of a Fine Art Degree at Falmouth before I realised I wanted to study classical portrait painting in Florence. I love work by the old masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer.
How has your art developed over the years?
I was never really sure about what I should be doing in art. So I have always just experimented along the way until I began a more specialised way of teaching in Salisbury that follows the traditional sight-size method when drawing a portrait from life. After losing a lot of my sight after years of brain trauma in my twenties, it then became very difficult to draw a human, and I turned to drawing from photos of wildlife and animals which suited my new vision a lot better; at least I felt a lot more confident in it. I also found drawing animals much more forgiving than trying to create an exact likeness of a human. They say when you lose a sense, others are heightened and as clichéd as it sounds, when I drew someone’s animal, I ‘felt’ more when looking at the fur and in their eyes and somehow it shows in my drawings now with an increased sensitivity to the subject’s personality.
At what point did the idea emerge for having an open studio, shop and gallery space? Had this been a long term plan or was it about finding the space?
When I was 27 (1.5 years ago), my parents were offered the chance to purchase the shop. They then turned to me and asked if I would like to rent the shop space from them, and I was given an amazing opportunity to create a studio that could also offer space to exhibit and host events. Before this, I had been working in my studio on the farm at home. However, with not being able to drive and having to rely heavily on my parents’ support, I began to feel very isolated and lonely, so having a studio where I can interact with others is just amazing for me and very stimulating. The people I have met so far in it have just been incredible, and have opened so many more doors for me in being able to advertise my art to a wider audience.
I had always imagined myself living in a city when I was young after university, and then in the countryside that I so love, but because of my situation on the health front with its limitations, having a quiet place in my home town, close enough to home and my family’s support, but in the centre of town, has given me the freedom and independence I need.
Tell us a bit about 27 Art House – where it is, how you designed the interior, and also what you sell.
27 Art House (named after the number of the building and the age at which I got the keys for it) is a calm, creative space located on Bridge Street, in the heart of the historic home town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. I used a subtle pink/white for the front of the shop to create a clean and sophisticated look. The subtle pink continues inside to accommodate neutral walls for a background to the artwork, and for the ceramics and stock I have on sale in the shop. It is also all geared up for future exhibitions and events that will be hosted here.
I wanted to keep the shop fairly minimal to help exaggerate the pieces that I have on sale. I have never been one for too much clutter, and because this is a space I work in as well I wanted minimal clutter. I also wanted it to be a space where people immediately feel calm when they walk in, especially with the log burner on at the back and two elegant SOHO Home chairs positioned near the fireplace for anyone to sit and relax.
How do you find and source the products and independent businesses to stock?
I wanted to stock products that promote a healthy, holistic, positive and mindful way of living as for me this has been such a healing mechanism to my life. When I have visited places like Norfolk, I would always go exploring and find beautiful shops. Whilst in Norfolk I came across this shop that specialised in perfumes and candles and after talking to the owner, I was then able to stock their products, which all smell amazing.
Other products include ceramics by friends I have met along the way, including Michel François, a potter from Falmouth who creates these incredible Moon Jars that are my main focus in my shop windows; and a young artist, Elvira Genthof, from Bruges. Every Friday I have local florist Polly delivering fresh flower bouquets and potted arrangements that definitely brighten up Bridge Street.
Where did the idea come from for including pre-loved and vintage clothing? Again, is that a passion of yours?
The pre-loved clothes rail was more of an experiment and a way of raising a little bit of money to help towards Ukrainian refugees, but everyone seems to love it and I have had the most wonderful designer pieces come in that have gone down a treat, so it might be something I keep going.
Can you tell us a bit about the workshops you host in the space? And was it always important to have a space that could be used in this way?
I have hosted my first two workshops over Valentine’s Day including a spring potted bulb workshop by Polly’s Petals and a mindful painting class by me. The potted bulb class attracted all ages including my granny who is in a home at the moment, and it was so rewarding to be able to offer something to those who might otherwise be limited to what they can do and see them thrive! Both classes created an amazing atmosphere and I think went down really well.
I hope to organise more workshops for events such as Easter, Halloween and Christmas as well as having guest appearances and bringing experiences to Berwick, rather than people having to leave Berwick to go to the cities to find something like a life drawing class or a whisky tasting evening. I hope to bring energy and creativity back into this space!
What have you enjoyed most since opening the business last year?
Meeting people! Berwick is full of surprises and I just love the constant stream of interesting people walking into the shop that I wouldn’t meet otherwise. I have also loved the community and support here on Bridge Street and becoming part of it.
What does a working day look like for you?
I am in the shop for about 9 every day, maybe earlier if I decide to do some yoga in the back first thing. I take my dog Teasel for a walk before opening the doors. First thing in the morning tends to be quite quiet, so I always get set up on my easel to work on commissions. So far it’s been a gentle stream of customers and lots of chatting. I take Teasel for an afternoon walk and then close the shop around 5.30 unless I feel like working on commissions.
Are there any other local businesses that you would like to highlight?
West Street is really transforming with amazing shops like Interesting Books, Puddles, or Northern Soul. A winery is about to open opposite Mule on Rouge, which is very exciting ,and along with the Turkish restaurant, Atelier, and The Curfew, Bridge Street really does have a buzz about it in the evenings.
What are your favourite local places and walks to explore?
I love Bamburgh and Seahouses, where my mum is from, with places to eat like The Potted Lobster and the beach walks. My favourite walk with Teasel at the moment is along the river and up to Castle Terrace; it’s about a 5km loop that’s perfect before work in the mornings. Not many people can say they go for a walk along a gorgeous river, under historic bridges, through old arches of a castle, and hardly see a soul – all before work.
Finally, what are your plans for 27 Art House for the year ahead?
My first main event this year will be my very own book signing and exhibition of my drawings that I had in my London exhibition last year called Windows of the Soul, which I am so excited about. My book signing will then follow on to London, where I am having one at White City House (the Soho House members’ club and hotel in west London). My book is called A Different Kind of Vision. I will be working on some new pieces in the back of the shop for Soho House whilst sourcing new products to keep the shop interesting for everyone.
See more of Amy’s work on her website and on her Instagram.
Follow 27 Art House on Instagram.
Photography by Lola Stammberger // @lola_film_ // Lola-film.com.
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