An artist and designer who has developed an art form is poised to launch her work to a worldwide audience.
Alison Best, who works from a studio at her home in West Kyo, Stanley, hopes to win widespread customers for what she calls `expressionist stencils'.
She has set up a business, created a website (www.alisonjbest.co.uk) to take her stencils and other artwork around the world and has an exhibition planned at The Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley from March 3 to 31.
With an honours degree in fine art and an MBA, Alison decided to turn her passion for art into a business last year. The unusual and highly effective stencils have already attracted the attention of collectors and others in the art world and are expected to have a particular appeal to the Far East market.
Each completed work is unique and the process starts with an original drawing. Then delicate stencils, taking up to six days to hand-cut, are used to produce a small number of works with each resulting piece painstakingly inked or gilded by hand.
"Initially I was selling to family and friends," said Alison. "When word spread and interest was coming from galleries and retailers as well as individuals, I was encouraged to start a business. Having worked in business development previously, I knew Business Link was the place to go for support." Business Link account manager David French helped Alison to develop a business plan and successfully apply for a cultural business venture grant from the Arts Council.
IT specialist Jim McRoy worked on setting up the website and advised on internet marketing and Jeff Thompson from UK Trade and Investment was linked in to offer expertise on export.
Support also came from arts business expert Paul Crozier and innovation specialist Richard Hall, who advised on intellectual property rights.
"Despite working in the sector, it is actually very different setting up your own business," said Alison. "David's advice has been invaluable on the finance side in particular and he has been able to link me in to all the other specialists. I am very pleased with the website as it shows examples of my work, from the stencils to landscapes, portraits and digital art, in a gallery format."
All of Alison's work, including her multi-media expressionist art, digital photography art and illustrations for children's books, is inspired by a lifelong love of nature.
It reflects the patterns and dynamics found in the natural world including flower shapes, leaves, trees, stones and bark. She is also influenced by the work of North-East engraver and illustrator Thomas Bewick.