Meet Sue Mulholland

It varies because of where I am at the time, the time of year and what I’m doing because there’s so much wonderful artwork out there, that to choose a favourite is almost impossible. As you’ve asked me, I really love Kandinsky, particulary his Compositions and Improvisations. They’ve got such rhythm and energy, they’re like pieces of music, but visual music. I love Composition 7 and his Improvisation 26, they’re beautiful, absoloutely gorgeous.

I usually decided to do a painting because something has inspired me, very often, when I’m having a walk with my dog. It may be a sunset, or a stormy sea, and I usually take a few photographs on my phone and when I go home, I try and remember the feeling because it’s all about the essence of the moment and how it felt. When I stand in front of my easel, what I do is I close my eyes and try and take myself back. I usually do a background first, I don’t always know where it’s going to go, so I play with the feeling of it. I love working with acrylic paint on canvas and I also love to paint with ink on art paper.

It’s hard to answer this one, but yes, I could not think of anything so I asked my husband, and partner in Gigglewick Gallery. There’s a band ELO, Electric Light Orchestra, and he reminded me that only in recent years, with him doing my family tree, that we discovered that Kenny, in the band was my second cousin. He sadly passed away so I haven’t met him, but I just love knowing that, it’s a strange feeling to try and express, because I love music, and I love art, which is probably why I love Kandinsky, because of the musical aspect. 

I read a little bit about him and found out that his grandfather and my grandfather were brothers. Whilst I was reading about him, I found that lots of the fans would say he was the warmest, most friendly, lovely member in the band and I could have cried at that. I thought, somewhere along the genes, we’re related, and he wasn’t just talented at his music, but he sounds like he was a lovely man too.

I tell so many people about Colonnade House, especially when artists come here who are just starting out. I was so incredibly nervous when exhibiting there for the first time, and I was really fortunate to sell my artwork when I was there. It helped me realise that there are people who my art resonates with and I didn’t know if there would be. It gave me confidence, because all my life, I haven’t really sold paintings, and after exhibiting at Colonnade House, I applied to exhibit paintings as the West Buildings Shelter, an outdoor public art exhibition for three months.

I then had the opportunity to open Gigglewick Gallery, and we’re still here. We started selling my art and then gradually, other people’s art as well, so I’ve met quite a lot of artists and we have all our art for sale here. It’s like a little fmaily of us who exhibit here. When we opened Gigglewick, myself and Steve made a vow to each other that we would only sell art that we love because that way, we can sell what we’re passionate about.

Lots of doors have opened, it’s given me opportunities and confidence and I’m now doing my art sessions which are great fun.

Becky Haskoll is based in Brighton, and she makes the most exquisite pieces of glass art. She will fire these fused glass bowls several times, and to get them this thin and exquisite she has to work really hard, sanding them down over and over again, and will fire them over and over again, and they’re beautiful. Each one is always based on mythology or folklore, so she always has all these stories behind them and they’re just lovely.

IG: @beachsidekiln