Ronnie Cruwys in conversation with Tina Paramore – Paper sculpture artist October 2017

Ronnie Cruwys in conversation with Tina Paramore – Paper sculpture artist   October 2017

Tell me a little about your childhood Tina - where were you born?

‘I was born in Andernach, Germany. My mum was a potter and Dad was a stone mason. Dad used to take me around his stone mason’s yard and Mum would make little clay things with me – she was full of creative ideas.’

So, what brought you to the UK?

My husband! First to Bromsgrove where we lived for about ten years or so. 

Now I know that you live on a narrow boat, but what prompted you make the move from land to water? 

We had been on a few narrow boat holidays and we both really liked the canals. When we moved house, we went to live by a canal and a boat came with the house! We did give it a lot of thought that we might enjoy living on a boat but I was working in a software company at the time so this wouldn’t have been practical. Then I was made redundant and it was a few years later that we moved into a narrow boat. 

From here I made a career change down a more artistic path. I began sign writing and narrow boat painting. 

What made you turn toward the creative papier mache figures that you make now?

It was after my Mum died in 2008. She was a papier mache artist and left all her materials and kit to me so I stepped into her shoes. 

What figures are you working on at the moment Tina?

As our canal moorings are in the forest, I’m creating lots of magical woodland fairies, tree spirits, elves and nature spirits. 

Look out for plenty of new creations coming to the gallery very soon!

Thanks Tina! 

"A Winter Gathering"

As today was such a momentous day for members of the Staffordshire Artists Co-operative I felt it needed to be documented, so after a long time of no posts on here we have returned!
We have been busy in my absence with a few members leaving and more arriving - we are now 17 in number, exhibitions have been going on monthly in our Gallery as well as charity days and we are generally very happy with the way things are progressing.
We have work of our 2D artists on display in the Artisan - in Eccleshall and also most members have a few pieces of work now hanging in Tylmans of Stone - but today we set up an full exhibition of our work in the Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek. This is the first time we have had an exhibition as the co-operative and I think it safe to say we are all very excited about this and hopeful that it is something we can repeat in other places too!
Our exhibition is entitled "A Winter Gathering" and will be opening Saturday 19th November.

The first members arrived at Foxlowe around 10am today and most of the other members arrived sometime during the morning or early afternoon to help with the setting up. It is now all set up ready for our preview evening Friday 18th 7-9pm.

This is how today went in pictures!

First things first - get the room organised

Pom Fuller and her watercolour paintings

Helen Cartlidge and her watercolour paintings

Ronnie Cruwys hanging her streets of Leek and icon paintings

Tina Paramore and her papier mache art 

Sally Hadley with her photography and handmade paper and pressed flower pieces

Noel Bennett and his photography

Craig Sumner and his oil paintings

Mike Wheeley and his abstract paintings

Louise Spencer and her felt and silk scarves

Jo Hearn setting up her ceramics with her daughter

Charis Jones with her metal work art

Jo Hill and Ronnie, finding time to chat

Tom Hackneys paintings and table

Jo Hill and her textiles

Vance Lupton and his wood turning

Wayne Tomlinson (#thelighthouseman) mixed media paintings

Jewellery by Angela Smith

Jewellery by Angela Smith

Silver jewellery by Lyn Cook

Almost finished

Almost finished

just one scarf left to price

This exhibition will remain in Foxlowe Arts Centre until December 24th, If you are in the area please pop in to take a look

Three years and going strong!

Three years today Gallery at 12 opened it's doors to the public for the very first time, It had taken three months of planning to get to that stage and we had no idea if we would last three months, let alone three years, so it is a massive achievement for us to have got this far!
I would like to share with you my personal view on our journey to this point.
The seeds for Gallery at 12 were sown around 6 years ago, when a group of artists including Bob Thacker and myself got together with the idea of taking Staffordshire art out to the County. It never got off the ground, apart from a couple of shows at one small village festival, the seeds then lay dormant for a couple of years. Then three years ago last January or February I was listening to Radio 2 when the Jeremy Vine show started up, he was talking about a group of artists who had got together and had started to use a shop on Dursley High Street to showcase their work, I was only half listening but I began to realise as the show continued that these artists were doing something we had been talking about doing two or three years earlier, so I had resolved to phone Bob later to discuss things with him. On my way home, however, I had to stop off at our local bakery and who should be in there but Bob and his wife, I have to say this was not expected as Bob doesn't live in the same village as me and it is the first and only time I have ever met him in the bakery!
Their reaction to seeing me took me by surprise, I was greeted with 'Hello - we've just been talking about you!'
I laughed and replied by saying 'you've been listening to Jeremy Vine'
Bob then replied 'Not only that but as a result we have been to Eccleshall and found a shop - would you be interested?
Well what could I say.
'Absolutely Yes!!!'
and the rest as they say is history -
The Staffordshire Artists Cooperative was formed and we managed to raise interest with several artists, some stayed, some decided that it was too much of a commitment either financially or time. but by the time the Gallery was ready for opening we were seven in number, excited for the future and at the same time slightly anxious about what would happen over the next few months.
Over the last three years 3 of the original 7 members have left for legitimate reasons but even more new artists have joined us.
Yesterday we held a celebratory Open day aimed mainly at potential new artists and hopefully as a result we will see some more artists join us in the next few weeks or months, the future is looking good.
Happy Birthday Gallery at 12

If you are an artist living in Staffordshire or local to Eccleshall and would also like to consider joining us or exhibiting with us, please pop in, have a look around and talk to the member manning the gallery, we would love to meet you:)