Yvonne Estop

Over many years, Yvonne has explored domestic narratives in chair design, translating familiar objects into chairs, we asked her a few questions:

Where do you find the inspiration for your pieces?

I am always noticing small things around me when I walk along the street, marks on walls, piles of boxes, everyday ephemera, and I love finding shapes, patterns, light and shadow. These inspire me, as well as everyday objects like wooden spoons.

What has been the piece of artwork that you have been most proud of?

The ‘Lower case chair’, where I made a chair from letter shapes, cut out of plywood. I found I could join it together with simple joins and make a solid chair. I spent a long time doodling to design a font that would look nice typographically and also look balanced when made into an object. It’s quite comfortable too. Yes, there is an ‘Upper Case chair’ – a large armchair.

Has there been anyone in particular who has really helped you as an artist?

Two good artist friends in childhood and student days, my sixth form art teacher, an art teacher who told my parents I would make a good designer before I knew what that meant, photographer Fay Godwin many years ago at a workshop, Chloe Cheese at a drawing workshop last year.

Who is your most favourite artist and what artwork do you have in your home?

I admire the two towering art and design couples – Charles and Margaret Mackintosh, Charles and Ray Eames. I have a reproduction Mackintosh armchair in my home. And a Thonet no 14 chair – mass produced and gracefully beautiful. I have paintings by my friends Jon Hale and Alison Chaplin.

How long does it take you to finish a piece of work?

Absolutely ages. My output is very low. I do a lot of standing and staring.

Are there any other mediums that you haven’t worked with, but would like to?

I draw but I have never really painted, it needs a different mindset. I would like to try portrait painting, perhaps with the Bishop’s Stortford Art Society.

Shveta Maini

Shveta will be exhibiting contemporary abstract art working with mixed media.  Find out what inspires Shveta…

Where do you find the inspiration for your pieces?

Life experiences, travel, memories, and personal journeys serve as powerful sources of inspiration for me. I translate my experiences, exciting and mundane into abstract forms, expressing the intangible aspect of my life.

What has been the piece of artwork that you have been most proud of?

I’m uncertain about singling out one piece of work as my proudest achievement at this point. I consider myself a work in progress, and instead of pinpointing a single piece, I can confidently say that most of my works fill me with immense pride. Each one carries a deeply personal and intimate expression that often leaves me astonished at the journey I’ve taken to reach the outcome.

Has there been anyone in particular who has really helped you as an artist?

I think it would have to be me foremost as it’s a constant dialogue with myself to cheer me on to keep creating, expanding and learning. But what has been most helpful have been my association with other groups of artists be it through the Hertfordshire Visual Artist Association, Visual artist Association or ArtCan that has connected me to my people.

Who is your most favorite artist and what artwork do you have in your home?

Among the artists I admire most are Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Gerhard Richter.

I have art from a lot of my contemporaries, who are all emerging artists like myself.

How long does it take you to finish a piece of work?

The timeline for my work varies; it may span a few days or extend over several months. I employ a layering technique to construct textures and compositions that convey meaningful narratives.

I would love to explore techniques that lend a sculptural quality to my work.