As of the 1st of August 2019, The Frame House will no longer be open on Saturday’s. The last Saturday we will be open is the 27th of July.

The new opening hours will be:

Monday: 8am – 5pm

Tuesday: 8am – 5pm

Wednesday: 8am – 5pm

Thursday: 8am – 6pm

Friday: 8am – 5pm

Saturday: Appointment Only

Paul Stangroom is a local artist based in Prudhoe who we’ve had the pleasure of working with for many years. His paintings offer a fantastic insight into the wilds of the North (although he does travel further afield) and we got the chance to sit down with him late last year to find out why he does what he does!

What inspires you to paint?

Certain places, rural and urban, create a resonance, and I paint them to understand why. That’s basically it.

Ruined Cottage

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a Carrara mountain painting right now, following a visit to Tuscany with my partner Alison. That painting is almost finished and I’ve recently started to paint a landscape that has been tweaking at me for years, of Colt Craig Reservoir, just above Great Swinburne in Northumberland.

Do you have a favourite piece of art? If so, why do you love it?

There’s a Rembrandt self portrait in the National Gallery, Edinburgh, that I am particularly fond of, and also a Velazquez – “An Old Woman Frying Eggs”.

What’s the importance of framing? How does it affect the overall artwork?

I’m looking forward to seeing my Carrara mountain painting framed. It’s the final presentation of the work itself, helps to isolate it from the world around, and acts as a window through which to view the painting. The frame and glass also provide protection against dust and dirt.

Stanley Burn

What do you look for in a picture framer?

A very high standard of workmanship is key. And it’s important that the framers listen carefully to your requirements, which Frame House professionals do.

Why do you like working with The Frame House?

The Frame House offer very good, expert advice and I’ve always had excellent service.

If you’d like to see more of Paul’s work then click here and take a look at his website.

Your last time to collect items from us is:

12 noon, Monday 24^th December

We will be closed from 12.00 on 24^th December

We are not open at any time during the period between Christmas and New Year.

We will re-open bright and early at 8.00 am on Wednesday 2^nd January.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our lovely customers!

David Welsh, also known to us as the Painter of Provence, has been a customer for many, many years now. He spends half of his time living in France painting the gorgeous scenery and then comes back to the North East to have them framed for exhibitions. It’s an absolute treat to see him and we love spending time framing his work.

With the joys of the internet we were able to get David to answer a few questions for us about his inspirations, favourite art pieces and why he comes to us over all the other framers. Thanks David!

What inspires you to paint?

Living in Provence with amazing landscapes in every direction, and knowing you are in the same area where Cézanne, Van Gogh and many other Proven?$B!x(Bal painters lived and worked. Apart from that, I remember my tutor Dave Bardon telling me to, “paint from your heart lad!” and that has always stuck with me. Also, to paint with passion.

What are you working on right now?

I have just finished a painting called “La Lumiere du Soir” (Evening Light). It was painted in the wild Provençal countryside not far from where we live.

La Lumiere du Soir

Do you have a favourite piece of art? If so, why do you love it?

Most of my favourite works come from the Impressionist era and the ones that always come to mind are Edgar Degas, “The Absinthe Drinker”, the original title was “Dans un Café”. My other favourite is by Paul Cézanne, “The Card Players”. I love these because you can almost feel their very thoughts.

The Card Players

The Absinthe Drinker

What’s the importance of framing? How does it affect the overall artwork?

The importance of framing is to protect your favourite piece of work but also to enhance that same piece by bringing both together and allowing one to compliment the other, whilst giving vibrancy and life to your painting.

What do you look for in a picture framer?

1 – One who listens to your story, and will give good advice.

2 – Has an excellent choice of mouldings or can get what would suit your work ASAP.

3 – Competitive pricing

Why do you like working with The Frame House?

Because they meet all my framing needs and are a tremendous team to work with.

To see more of David’s work, do have a look on his website http://www.davidwelsh-artist.com/

Our focus in the frame this week is Consett lad Phil Bartle. Phil’s artwork is fantastic, full of humour and completely unique. If you’re a Consett native who grew up here in the sixties and seventies there is bound to be something that evokes a memory or a laugh in you. His work is definitely a conversation starter in the shop! People often linger at his work and tell us stories about what they remember from the time. It’s amazing what a simple picture can do…

Although, he’s getting ready for an exhibition in mid-August he still found time to sit down and talk to his favourite picture framers. We’re eternally grateful Phil!

What inspires you to paint?

Absolutely loads of things. I’ve put together a random list and they’re all equally important:

People – characters from the past and present and the humour they have.

Memories of growing up in Consett in the sixties and as a teenager in the seventies – fantastic times and Consett was a great place – and still is!

Betting Shops – our family had betting shops in the Consett and Stanley area during the sixties and seventies and horse racing and betting were at the centre of everything we did. They were always smoke-filled rooms and always full, nearly all blokes who were all great characters. There were no TVs, no computers, just a tannoy and blackboards to mark up the runners and results. As a kid I used to draw on the blackboards when the racing was over.

The travelling fairground that used to come to Consett once a year when Consett Show used to be on. Always remember when I was about 8 wanting to work on the dodgems or the waltzer. I loved all the decorative painted panels on the different rides and music that blasted out.

Being a Catholic – I did a picture about Midnight Mass, I could do endless others.

Pop Art

Herge – whose Tintin adventures had great characters, great humour and took you to exotic far off places around the world. Other comic artists like Dudley D. Watkins who could make ordinary family life funny, as in The Broons, When The Wind Blows and Ethel and Ernest by Ramond Briggs, Viz, The Beano and The Dandy.

Pubs, workingmens clubs, entertainment night at Blackpool hotels, Eric Morecambe, Bilko, Father Ted, live music and loads of bands and musicians.

Football, back in the day before it sold its soul to Sky TV.

Family gatherings and nights out.

And if I had to pick a group of painters, it would have to be when I left school at 16, I was an apprentice painter for Derwentside Council and the group of painters I worked with taught me more about life than any college ever could.

Switzer Bros.

What are you working on right now?

I’ve got a mini exhibition on at Consett Library in mid-August. It’s about memories of going to The Plaza in Consett. There’s about 9 paintings and a few artefacts. The focus is definitely more on humour than on history. I’m starting work on a series of pictures about football in the 70’s, hoping to finish it by summer 2019.

Plaza Days Exhibition

Do you have a favourite piece of art? If so, why do you love it?

There’s so many I like, but if I had to pick one it would be The Beatles album cover for Sgt. Peppers – Pop Art at its finest by Peter Blake.

What’s the importance of framing? How does it affect the overall artwork?

I don’t think you realise how important framing is until you get a picture framed properly for the first time, then you can’t go back to the “off the shelf” cheaper frames. Good framing puts the finishing touch to your artwork and can help set the mood.

I’ve got a funny story about getting my pictures framed. When I was about 18, I sold a painting at Jesmond Art Fair on a Sunday morning for about 30 quid. My brother, looking at this as a commercial money making venture asked me, “How many of them can you knock out in a week?” So I was churning out these awful pictures just to try and make some quick money. My brother took it on himself to take care of the framing side of things. I came in the house one day and found him sawing 6 inches off the bottom of a painting (they were done on Daler Boards) just so it would fit a frame he???d got hold of. So, if anyone has a picture of mine that looks like 6 inches are missing from the bottom – that’s because they are.

Feedin’ Geordies Horse

What do you look for in a picture frame?

A bargain and a free pen at Christmas! Only joking, I look for good advice, a wide selection of frames, a professional job at a fair price and a friendly atmosphere in the shop.

Why do you like working with The Frame House?

For all the reasons above and the fact that I can always trust The Frame House to do a great job, and they aren’t afraid to give you their opinion on what would be the best option. Also, the fact that I get on really well with everyone who works there.

Check out Phil’s facebook page Red Dust to see more examples of his work. Or you could pop into our shop and see it there. We’ve got framed originals and mounted prints on offer.

As a small business in Consett based on an industrial estate (not the high street), advertising is an essential way to get the word out that we exist. Even now, having been here for 30 years we still get customers coming in to the shop who say, “I didn’t know you were here!”.

Over the past couple of years, social media has become our go-to when it comes to marketing. With the advent of fresh, young blood in the factory we’ve been able to drag the directors into the 21st century (mildly confused but mostly willingly!) and have been able to hit a whole new market. Along with a shiny new website (thanks to Matt Shaw of Pixel House Media who is amazingly awesome) our reach has widened somewhat. Which is very nice.

To be fair, we did already have a few customers based in the South and all over the country, but they had come through referrals not direct marketing. What we didn’t expect from our new shenanigans was a phone call from The Sunday Telegraph who were looking to fill their annual supplement magazine: Arts, Antiques & Collectibles and would we be interested in an advertorial spot?

Well actually, yes, yes we would! Getting our name and story in a magazine that will sit in hotels, airport lounges and business offices, who wouldn’t want that?

It’s not the best photograph but we were just so excited!!

There was no one better for the job than Gemma, daughter of Paul and Eileen, who has quite literally grown up in the business and knows the history along with all of the ins and outs. Cue frantic scribblings, head scratching and much crumpling of paper as Gemma is a little bit of a perfectionist and wanted it to be, well, perfect! Finally, a lot of blood, sweat and tears later she came up with an article that we all love and think really tells the story of how The Frame House came in to being and why we love what we do. It also did its job as we got lots of enquiries, many of which turned into actual work!

The advertorial in all it’s glory. Obviously we framed it…

Social media marketing certainly isn’t the only way that we advertise but as this proves, it can have a massive impact on who sees you. Who would have thought, all those years ago, that we’d be in a national newspaper one day. Not us that’s for sure! It is a bit nice though….

Have a read of the article by clicking on this link! Whether you’re a long-time customer or a brand new one, we’d love to hear any thoughts or comments you have!

In the frame this week is Diane Gainey of the Viridian Gallery in Cumbria. We’ve worked with Diane for too many years to count now and hope there’ll be many more to come as it’s always a pleasure! Diane specialises in watercolours using the beautiful scenery in the Lake District as some of her inspiration but also travels around the North capturing the beauty of local landmarks.

It was a joy to interview her as her passion for art and painting shine through her words and made us fall in love with her work all over again.

Bamburgh Castle

What inspires you to paint?

Even as a child I was driven by some internal force that I didn’t understand, to capture what I saw and felt around me. That emotional connection with my work is as essential now as my knowledge of my medium. I have an intense fascination for atmosphere and find that the translucency and sensitivity of watercolour, is my ideal medium for capturing these illusive images.

I continue to be inspired and influenced to paint in a response to the drama, wildness, beauty, light and colour of the landscape around me – or sometimes even just a memory of an image I glimpsed.

What are you working on right now?

I am constantly working on new originals for my gallery, Viridian in Cumbria, and extending my Limited Edition Print Portfolio. In addition, at present I am trying to put a collection of new Scottish paintings together for The Holroyd Gallery in Ballahulish.

Do you have a favourite piece of art? Why do you love it?

I have two original watercolour paintings of the late Walter Parker that I cherish. Walter was principle of Hartlepool Art College when I attended, and I was fortunate enough to count him as an inspiration, friend and mentor in the following years.

Rydal Water

What’s the importance of framing? How does it affect the overall artwork?

Sympathetic Framing of any subject is crucial to the final effect achieved. You can enhance a weak image by – well – framing it, whilst just as easily destroy a strong image by – badly – framing it. Recognising what style of framing will work best for both the image – and the environment it will hang in is often important. The framer needs to know when to use traditional mouldings and when to be contemporary, minimalistic or a little more adventurous. Knowing when to over or under frame is an art in itself.

What do you look for in a picture framer?

I look for a reliable, competent picture framer who is up to date with current framing trends and carries a comprehensive range of mouldings, mounts etc. -They need to be prepared to understand what I am trying to achieve with my work, whilst also advising and making suggestions that I may not have considered.

Why do you like working with The Frame House?

I have used The Frame House for longer than I care to remember and find their friendly delivery service such a bonus to my business. I know I can rely on them to provide realistically priced, quality frames for all of our framing needs, allowing us to keep our prices equally reasonable for the benefit of our customers. I also know they are at the end of the phone with helpful advice and ideas should we need it.

Time For Bed

If you’d like to know more about Diane and see more of her work check out her website.

https://diane-gainey.co.uk/

Here at The Frame House we don’t just deal with artists, we also work with interior designers and one who we have worked closely with for many years is Jacqui Smith of HomeSmiths. Based in West Sussex, HomeSmiths have had major success within both the healthcare and residential sectors maintaining a high quality of work throughout, an impressive feat given the different challenges in each arena.

Like ourselves, they are a family run business, so we’re very appreciative that Jacqui took the time to sit down and answer some of our questions as we know that time is not your own when you’re the boss!

Why did you become an interior designer?

As a little girl I loved decorating dolls houses and used to drive my parents potty by constantly rearranging my bedroom furniture. At school I loved art and had plans to be a graphic designer but was encouraged to take a more academic route and ended up studying economics at St Andrews University. Having graduated I went into marketing, never really felt I fitted. It was not until I met my now husband David, a cabinet maker, and started helping friends with their own interiors projects, that I started to seriously consider a career change. The final push came from some corporate coaching sessions with Executive Mentor Mike Pegg who identified that I loved creating environments. My husband and I started HomeSmiths the following year.

Jacqui Smith

Where do you find your inspiration?

Everywhere! Nature mostly and many of our healthcare schemes will have their roots in the history of the local area.

Which job have you been most proud of?

A private residential project in East Sussex and a Dementia home in Ipswich.

How do pictures affect a home’s decor? Why are they important?

Art is so important in a home. It adds personality and can often provide the lynchpin to a scheme. In healthcare design it can help support way finding too.

Why do you work with The Frame House?

The Frame House are a joy to work with. They have not once let us down and I am proud to have them as part of the extended HomeSmiths team. The team are super helpful from first enquiry to install, dealing with whatever an often-unready site throws at them with flexibility and humour. We would not use anyone else.

For more information on HomeSmiths and to see their portfolio check out their website:

https://www.homesmiths.co.uk/

Contemporary, classic or ornate – The Frame House, supreme in its class, offers the largest range of high quality frames in the North East. Using materials sourced from England, Spain and Italy, and embracing changing trends in fashion and interior design, they have been able to provide a premier picture framing service for more than 30 years.

Owners Paul Herron and Eileen Ryan began with a vision of supplying an unequalled picture framing service for North East England which inspired them to begin the small, family-run business. Their attention to detail and dedication to customers has made them first stop for world-renowned clientele such as international artists Alexander Millar, Ashley Jackson and Jesus Andreu as well as interior designers HomeSmiths and Helen McArdle, whilst never forgetting the original vision of serving the community.

Alexander Millar – Under The Umbrella

“Art in any form, be it a priceless painting or a treasured possession is essential in every household,” says Paul. “It can evoke feelings of nostalgia, a happy memory or a poignant depiction of an era long gone such as in Remembrance Artist, Jacqueline Hurley’s War Poppy Collection.” The simple black frame and triple mount with a hint of red all serve to show off and highlight the image, while the hand finishing with the barbed wire creates a stark contrast. “Our aim is to provide a frame that complements the piece and is the thread that binds the work together,” Paul adds.

Jacqueline Hurley – War Poppy Collection

The Fine Art Giclée printing service was created 10 years ago in order to truly serve the needs of artists and offer a service above and beyond. It incorporates meticulous colour correction, reproducing subtle variations and colours impossible with other technologies, ensuring the prints are as identical as possible to the original piece. Eileen says, “Art is part of our clients’ souls, we have to be true to their vision.”

With highly skilled and dedicated staff working on each framing project, many of whom have been part of the team for over 20 years, your experience with The Frame House will be first rate.

“Quality is at the forefront of everything we do and we are never satisfied with anything less than perfection.”

This article first appeared in Arts, Antiques & Collectibles, the annual supplement from The Sunday Telegraph, 11^th March 2018.

For the next in our series of In The Frame we managed to get some time with local artist Fiona Carvell. Having previously worked in television as a Graphic Designer and Art Director, Fiona’s passion for teaching and drawing took over! Fiona specialises in pastel works and is currently offering a varied selection of classes and workshops at Fine House Farm. Read on to find out where her inspiration comes from’

What inspires you to paint?

Lots of things! It changes all the time.

I guess I have a very eclectic taste; I have had a bit of a thing about trees over the past year – the spaces between branches, negative space and the shapes they create, but it can be anything that I find interesting. Generally speaking I am more drawn to natural forms, landscapes, grasses etc. I have always enjoyed exploring line and texture and the patterns that re-emerge in nature time and again, in leaves, branches, grasses – they’re all linked.

My design background has also played an important part in my artwork and so I also have lots of favourite Illustrators, Typographers and Designers too. Fashion Designer Izzy Miyake had an incredible exhibition called ‘Pleats Please’ in Paris, years ago, that I went to. It was one of the most amazing experiences and to this day I remain fascinated by the relationships between line, movement and colour.

Contemplation

What are you working on now?

I am trying to get my Seaweed Series completed. It began with ‘Treasure of The Deep’ and ‘Washed Ashore’, which are currently both on display at The Woodhorn Museum in Washington (until May 7th) as part of their ‘OCEAN’ exhibition. I have carried on with the theme and the subsequent pieces will be going to Gallery 45 in Felton in May and also to Number Four Gallery at St.Abbs in Scotland, so I’m very, very busy!!

Treasures of the Deep

What’s your favourite piece of art and why? (Your own or someone else’s)

Ah, that’s a really difficult question! Does it have to be just 1?

I love pastel work by Sarah Bee, her mix of line and colour is breath taking. The French Impressionists (Monet, Degas, Cezanne etc) remain an inspiration and influence the way I use colour. I come across new things all the time, but Sarah Bee is probably my favourite at the moment. Her recent tree paintings are fabulous. I especially like ‘Lime After The February Trim’.

What’s the importance of framing? How does it change the picture?

Framing is SO important. A bad frame will make a good picture look bad. A good frame will make a good picture look amazing!

Coppice

What do you look for in a picture framer?

An understanding of artwork and a good eye for detail. Sometimes I have a clear idea of what will be best to set a picture off properly and other times a second opinion really does help!

Why do you work with The Frame House?

The whole team at The Frame House are both professional and friendly. They listen carefully to what I need and I am very grateful for those times when I have had to get something framed quickly! They are supportive and deliver an excellent service. The frames are always good quality and present my artwork to a high standard, which is important for a professional artist.

For more information about Fiona and to see more examples of her work check out her website: https://fionacarvell.com