Historical News
Hot Flowers exhibition at Shine, Leeds
July 2011 - Feb 2012
A collection of original vivid flower paintings. Buyer Phil Mundy, who attended the exhibition's opening night, said: "I discovered Samantha's work first at Shine. Her painting not only resonated with the large space it was displayed within, but actually defined it.
"I acquired three different but complementary pieces, which are now on display within my home. Each piece provides a striking addition to the walls they adorn."
Sharing my story
May 2011
I'm very excited to be speaking and sharing my story at The Art House in Wakefield. The event will be hosted by Jane Walton, a lady who has inspired me, and will feature my work in support of The Art House charity.
Perfect gift for Mother's day
Feb 2011
My hand-painted card and mini canvas sets, available in a range of colours, could make the perfect gift for Mothers Day. Gift vouchers also available. Just contact me for details.
Hand-painted card (6" x 6") and mini canvas (4" x 5")
Mothers Day is on Sunday
3rd April
Valentine design
Feb 2011
My new valentine design featuring a hand-painted metallic heart set on a deep red card then mounted on an embossed white card has been a success with lots of orders and sales in the run up to Valentines day.
Enterprise uk
Jan 2011
There's been some sad news about Enterprise UK’s future - following the government’s decision to end their grant-in-aid funding, EUK decided to instigate an orderly wind down of the charity with immediate effect.
Check out my new card designs...
Jan 2011
Coffee, Cards and Canvas Charity Event
Dec 2010
This week I opened my doors to host a very special fundraising event for the Weekenders Club, a Leeds based charity that offers a home-based respite scheme and weekend play scheme for disabled children and their families.
I found out about the Weekenders Club from my friend Carolyn Nilan, a parent of a child who accesses the service and knew instantly that I wanted to support the charity in some way. Using my art to raise funds and attract guests to the event seemed a natural opportunity which has been greatly received - Carolyn and I really enjoyed planning and hosting the event together too.
The event was an amazing success and so much fun. We offered guests coffee and cake and access to buy original canvases, prints, gifts and hand-made cards; guests could also bid for selected paintings and prizes in an auction, and a range of raffle prizes were available too, with a percentage of all Art49 sales being donated to the charity.
Diana Winters from Weekenders Club Me, Carolyn and my mum.
A great atmosphere and and new friends made - a great time had by all.
Diana Winter,
Care Services
Co-ordinator for the
South Leeds Short Breaks
An arty party
Nov 2010
A big thank you to Leanne
for hosting the very first Art49 party, an idea
that came about just a few weeks ago - I visited Leanne's home to
show her a small selection of my work and Leanne commented that her
family and friends would like my paintings and prints, and perhaps
be interested in them for Christmas presents. We realised that a
great way to do this would be to get them together in Leanne's home
and to see a bigger selection of my paintings, prints and cards.
A festive twist
Nov 2010
I’m really pleased to announce the launch of my hand-made personalised Christmas cards. After great feedback for my existing hand-made cards I decided to look at designing and making a card specifically for the festive season. It’s certainly got me in the festive mood and I’m bubbling with ideas for more designs!
Art49 paintings selected for the Pea Gallery, Leeds
Oct 2010
Paintings from the Reflecting Light exhibition have been chosen by Pea Gallery's owner Caron Naylor to go on sale, with the Beaded Dragonfly painting featured in the front window.
Pea Gallery, at the Beechwood Centre, Church Street in Woodlesford, Leeds (LS26 8RE) has a beautiful range of original art, gorgeous gifts and cards. Caron regulalry gets new stock in - definately worth a visit.
Exhibition moves to Shine reception
Oct 2010
It's been an amazing time, exhibiting at Shine, so I was delighted when I had the opportunity to move part of the exhibition and add some new paintings to exhibit 14 canvases in the large reception area. I love visiting Shine and meeting contacts there.
Wildbride Wedding Fayre
Sep 2010
The Wildbride 2010 Wedding Fayre at the Marriot Hotel Leeds was the perfect choice for my first wedding fayre - to be among unique exhibitors offering brides to be, their families and friends something different to make their day extra special.
I really enjoyed exhibiting and got some great feedback when talking to the brides/grooms about how I can tailor my canvas art and designs for their wedding.
More art for Redbrick
Aug 2010
Delighted to extend my range of paintings for sale at Redbrick with paintings now also on display at Cafe Geo.
A busy summer at Shine
Aug 2010
Two months into my Reflecting Light exhibition and it's been a very busy summer promoting my exhibition, attending networking meetings and making lots of appointments to meet clients at Shine. It's quite challenging at times fitting this around the kids summer break - a big thank you to my mum for some extra childcare!
I've been really encouraged by the feedback and some more sales and commissions I've received.
Thanks to Clare from Gallery Forward who is helping to spread the word and wrote in her review about the exhibition; The exhibition is at Shine in Leeds, a contemporary and fresh business/office hub, conference and exhibition space in Harehills Road. The work comprises of delicate colours, textures and metallics that reflect well with the natural light and the essence of joy, peace, serenity that the artist wishes to connect with the audience. All the work can be shown as individual pieces, as well as working together in different sections. It is a delight and stunning exhibition to see".
Treasures on the beach
Jul 2010
July has certainly been a month for 'treasures on the beach'! First I sold the beach scene painted for my Reflecting Light exhibition.
Title 'Treasures on the beach'
Then I was asked to paint a commission of a beach scene with a starfish - the photo my dad had taken of a starfish was the perfect inspiration.
Photograph taken by my dad in Portugal
Career advice gets creative
Jul 2010
In my role as an Enterprise UK Ambassador, I was recently asked to
take the hot seat, when year six students from Three Lane Ends
Primary School in Castleford wanted to find out everything about a
career as an artist. The pupils had organised their very own careers
programme by inviting local entrepreneurs to talk about what is
involved in their job and what led them to their chosen career.
I received a lovely letter from two students called Holly and Megan
who wanted to find out about being an artist. I changed my career in
banking to become an artist, so I understand the importance of
aspirations. It’s a real privilege that the youngsters
chose me to share my story
and offer some honest advice.
I really enjoyed the visit, sharing my very own enterprise journey
with the children and answering some great
questions
about being an artist and running a business. We
talked about the skills and attitudes you need to be an
entrepreneur. I then set a mini art challenge to get the
students creativity and aspirations flowing. They
gave lots of input and produced some amazing work.
Katie Greatorex, Three Lane Ends Primary School said: “Thinking
about what to do when you leave high school is a real challenge so
our students decided to find out about the careers that really
interested them. We contacted Enterprise UK with a real mixed list
of trades and they put us in touch with local entrepreneurs willing
to tell us more. We’re really pleased that Samantha took time out to
share her trade and support our students’ aspirations.”
Keepsake cards
Jun 2010
Printing the dragonfly art postcards to mark the launch of my Reflecting Light exhibition started me thinking about designing a range of cards. I'm loving working on the card designs and also creating the miniature artwork for the hand-painted designs (quite a change from the huge canvases I was painting recently). I'll be developing the range over the next few months. Initial feedback from friends and family on the designs has been very good, so much so that they keep buying the sample designs!
Inspiring story
Jun 2010
I've had a lot of support from other business women throughout my self-employed journey and find attending women's networking groups very supportive and uplifting, so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to talk to the Women Inspired Network about being a woman entrepreneur and be featured in their magazine.
Women Inspired is a network for women in senior roles across Yorkshire & the Humber.
Reflecting Light Exhibition at Shine officially open
posted 23 Jun 2010
It's officially open! After months of planning, preparation and lots of painting, I'm thrilled to see my Reflecting Light Exhibition at Shine open to the public after the launch evening on Thursday night.
The evening got formally underway with speeches - an introduction and welcome to Shine by CEO Dawn O'Keefe, an official opening by Jane Walton, Head of Yorkshire and Humber region for Enterprise UK followed by a few words from me.
It was a wonderful evening, a chance to celebrate and amazing to see my 18 canvases on display. The icing on the cake was selling a painting, prints and art cards.
A special thank you to everyone who has supported me. The exhibition runs until 14th October.
Enterprise UK Ambassador Press Release
posted 13 Jun 2010
When I was approached by Enterprise UK to become an Ambassador for the Yorkshire and Humber region, I was delighted.
Enterprise UK is the national organisation created to give people in the UK the confidence, skills and ambition to be enterprising - to have ideas and make them happen. It's a great privilege to have the opportunity to inspire others by sharing my expertise and experiences in setting up and running my business.
The Enterprise UK team are great to work with and have been very supportive, and I'm thrilled to have Head of Yorkshire and Humber region, Jane Walton, officially opening my Reflecting Light Exhibition, which opens to the public on 18th June.
Enterprise UK website Inspiring story
Outdoor Living Designs Official Launch at Redbrick
posted 1 Jun 2010
Champagne, strawberries and a lucky break in the weather made for a great official launch for Outdoor Living Designs at Redbrick this bank holiday Sunday and Monday, where I joined owner John Strain in the celebrations.
Children enjoyed playing hopscotch and meeting rabbits Thumper and Bambi while parents and other customers shopped for paving, garden furniture, BBQs, jacuzzis, and more.
A great weekend for Outdoor Living Designs and Art49.
I wish John and his team every success.
Reflecting Light Exhibition
posted 31 May 2010
Not long to go until my solo exhibition 'Reflecting Light’ at the impressive Shine building in Harehills, Leeds. My paintings will be on display in the bright and inspiring atrium 'Upstairs@SHINE'.
The exhibition opens to the public on 18 June and runs until 14 October.
Art49 at Outdoor Living Designs
posted 6 May 2010
A selection of Art49 original canvas art is available to buy at Outdoor Living Designs at Redbrick, Batley.
9 April 2010 Batley Art Trail Samantha is delighted to take part in the Batley Art Trail – Six Batley arts venues open to the public during April 2010.
20 Mar 2010 NEC - What an amazing show! Art49 has just finished painting the last of the customer orders from what has been a very successful show.
24 Jan 2010 NEC Interiors Show 15 large Art49 paintings exhibiting as part of a huge eyecatching furniture accessories display in Hall 2. Show starts today and runs until 27th Jan.
20 Nov 2009 Art49 at Shine, Harehills Art49 now on display in the ground floor Studio@Shine room until early summer 2010. Solo exhibition booked Upstairs@Shine for June 2010.
13 Nov 2009 Seedling Exhibition Six of Samantha’s paintings go on display until 8th Jan at the Seedling Exhibition, Options Create, Dewsbury.
17 Sep 2009 Art49 at Skopos Art49 paintings now retailing at Skopos Fabrics and Interiors, Redbrick.
10 Sep 2009 Skopos gives artist a real boost http://www.batleynews.co.uk/news/Batley-design-firm-gives-artist.5633270.jp