Joanne Wishart - a colourful life

New Year, New Designs

2012-01-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

So here we are, the New Year is upon us and we’ve already lined up lots of exciting events. The major one on the horizon is the Spring Fair International 2012, 5th - 9th February, Stand 4FF85. In anticipation for this we will be launching our brand new wildlife collection of cards. Galleries and gift shops will be able to place trade orders at the show or can contact us for our 2012 trade

3 Days To Go!

2011-11-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

Over the past few days the Mushroom Works has been home to artists and designers rushing around, touching up paintings, last minute framing and hanging up pieces around the gallery space. ...But it’s finally here! The much anticipated Ouseburn Open Studios has arrived and here at the Mushroom Works we could not be more ready to start our Christmas shopping! This weekend Joanne’s studio at the

£20 for one weekend only...

2011-11-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

It’s all go here at the Mushroom Works! Joanne seems to be stuck for space in her studio at the moment, we are literally surrounded by 20x20s! The Ouseburn Open Studios is just around the corner, and many of the artists at the Mushroom Works are busy making their 20x20s ready for the opening night. Joanne has been busy in her studio and has been experimenting with lots of different materials.

2011-11-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

Events Update.... Find us at the following events in the lead up until Christmas:-) Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre this weekend ! A chance to view, taste and buy their exclusive range of Christmas delicacies. A Christmas gift and craft market will also be opened to buy all those essential Christmas gifts. The Tea Room will be open all day as well as a Christmas Cabin full of nibbles and

Edinburgh Art Fair

2011-11-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

Joanne has been working on three new paintings that will be showcased in the Edinburgh Art Fair. The ‘Design Room’ Gallery, owned by Joanne’s brother, Jason Gallagher, will be exhibiting them on her behalf. The Edinburgh Art Fair will take place at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange and is open to the public from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th November. Attracting galleries from as far afield as Canada,

Fresh Start, New Designs

2011-11-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

After receiving such positive feedback on three of her coastal cards, Seal, Seaside Donkeys and Beach Huts, Joanne decided that it was time she added to the collection. After all, who can resist a trip to the seaside for some inspiration?! The final designs she has chosen are deckchairs, VW campervans, the beach and all that entails. Joanne has wanted to incorporate campervans into some of her

Seaside Holiday

2011-10-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a long first year since the arrival of our boys so it was lovely to spend a weeks holiday with the Wishart family in North Yorkshire. Who could believe the weather! We had a wonderful day in Scarborough with 27oc sunshine. A walk round the harbour, fish and chips for lunch followed by some sand castle building and a Mr Whippy :-) I got some wonderful inspiration for new work. There

The Studio Is Calling!

2011-10-18T04:07:00.000-07:00

Well I think it is safe to say we have definitely left summer well and truly behind us. Time to look forward to all the exciting events coming up in the near future! Eleven months after the arrival of her twin boys, Joanne is back in her studio painting again. I have returned to my role as Joanne’s intern. New ideas are in the making and deadlines have been set, we are definitely back in business

New space and new faces.....

2011-07-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

The builders have finish!! It has been a long time in the planning stage but we have finally got a new space for our card business. A small but functioning garage conversion is the now home for our stock with a space for our new team of card makers. Helping us out over the summer months we have two young ladies joining the business. Welcome to Jenny and Lindsey. Jenny Alderson is creative 16 year

You are never too young to get creative!

2011-05-24T03:21:00.000-07:00

My own creativity has been on the back burner lately since the birth of my baby boys but I decided enough was enough. It was time to get the paints out again! It's never too early to introduce children to a bit of mess and creativity. As you can see Fraser has a more expressive style where as Finley took his painting more seriously. I am planning to get back to some real painting in the Autumn

Time for tea.

2011-04-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

Awaiting us at the studio last week was our delivery of new mugs from Dunoon Ceramics. Last year I worked on three new coastal village paintings for Dunoon and it is great to see the finished products! The mugs are now available to buy online through our webshop, through Dunoon stockists nationwide or find us at a craft fair this summer.

Family Life

2011-04-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

Well it has been almost 6 months now since I went in to early labour and gave birth to the boys Fraser and Finley. I never imagined the boys would ever be this big. Both weighing in at over 11lbs now it has been a long road but I think finally we are heading on the right track. The boys are both doing well and will soon be off their oxygen support at home. I can't wait to get out and about with

Spring in our step.......

2011-02-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

Spring Fair 2011 at the NEC Birmingham is upon us again. Ross and my brother Jason travelled down yesterday to set up our stand in the Greetings Card hall. Ross is going it alone this year as I am at home on maternity leave looking after our boys who were recently discharged from the special care baby unit. I love the work they have done on my stand and thanks to Jason for making the new "Wishart

We have a winner!

2010-12-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

Over the Ouseburn Open Studios weekend a raffle was held in Joanne’s studio to help raise money for the Tiny Lives Charity. They help so much in supporting the Neonatal Service at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle. As you already know her boys are there right now and are receiving tremendous care and attention from all the nurses and everyone who works there. Joanne and Ross wanted to show

Ouseburn Open Studios

2010-11-24T06:06:00.000-08:00

Another exciting weekend for your diary! The 26th – 28th November is set for the much anticipated Ouseburn Open Studios. I have vivid memories from last year of anxious queuing outside the Mushroom Works, a rampage when the doors were finally opened and then, not what I would call an altogether civilized, buying frenzy! Definitely the most hectic art exhibition I’ve ever experienced! With the

Biscuit Factory Preview Night

2010-11-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

As Joanne is otherwise engaged with some new additions to the family, I thought I would keep you updated with news of their recent events. The Christmas spirit was definitely in the air at the Biscuit Factory on Saturday evening. The new Winter Exhibition 2010 was officially revealed and with the great turnout the night was a great

Fraser and Finley Wishart

2010-10-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

It’s been a whirl wind of a couple of weeks in the Wishart household. Just as I was about to finish off my last two canvases and hang up my apron for a few months of well deserved maternity leave it seems the little boys had other ideas! Relaxation, cuppas and cakes, converting the garage and preparing the nursery were my plans until the boy’s arrival in January.......... but plans changed very

Fun at the Fair!

2010-10-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Phew! We survived! Another hectic weekend spent at the NewcastleGateshead Art Fair.Hello there. My name is Katie and, as Joanne already mentioned, I will be helping the Wishart enterprise with anything from art fairs to marketing. I’m studying Art History at Newcastle University at the moment, with an aspiration to work in the arts. Art journalism is a great interest of mine, so don’t be

Hello and Goodbye

2010-09-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Over the last month we have said goodbye to Sally our intern who is off to London to work at the Imperial War Museum and study for her MA. She will be sadly missed but I am sure she will be enjoying her new life and career in the big smoke. Ross and I would like to officially welcome the wonderful Katie Hughes to the Wishart team. Katie is a History of Art student with a passion for the creative

Oranges and Lemons

2010-07-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

Alnmouth Arts Festival was glorious this year, with the sun shining people meandered around with ice cream in hand. Our church stall enjoyed a variety of visitors who seem to be increasing in numbers each year at this ever growing event. As someone who is drawn to anything related to the sea Susan Waters work really caught my eye. Her fishy

Alnmouth Arts Festival

2010-06-17T04:03:00.000-07:00

Visit the beautiful coastal village of Alnmouth for the 6th Annual Arts Festival on 26th and 27th June. As summer has finally descended upon us, we have taken up the opportunity to exhibit my work within this year’s Alnmouth Arts Festival. The plans for the weekend have been creating a buzz of anticipation within the area. Around one hundred of the region’s best professional and local amateur

Mirror Mirror on the wall......

2010-06-01T03:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Ross and I took a trip into rural Northumberland to collect a mirror that furniture designer Paul Squire of Fallen Tree Design had been hand making for our new house. Winding along beautiful country back roads Pauls workshop sits in the heart of the Cheviots. I have to say I was jealous of this location. Peace, quiet and fresh air! I met Paul last year at my exhibition preview at the

Weird and Wonderful......

2010-05-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

This years "Late Shows" is nearly upon us at the Mushroom Works. We are all full of busy in preparation for a fun filled weekend of weird and wonderful creativity. My studio will be open to the public for a glass of wine and a chat from 7-11pm on Friday and Saturday night. So come along and be amazed ...........

Arts, Craft and Inspiration ...

2010-04-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

After having a little lie in this morning I have just about recovered from the British Craft Trade Fair (11th 12th &13th April) an annual event for British and Irish Crafters who were exhibiting their handmade products. Yesterday after a very early start of six in the morning, I hopped on the train to the lovely Harrogate to join my husband and business partner Ross for the last day of the fair

3 days to go!...

2010-03-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

The ArtsBank was certainly taking shape with what looks to be the perfect venue for arts and culture within this beautiful, sleepy seaside town. Builders, artists, curators, (and just about anyone they could get their hands on!) were hard at work to meet the Easter deadline. Paintings going one way and sculptures going another, there seemed not a moment of peace for anyone working on the project.

Colourful Colourful Houses

2010-03-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have just come across this great image by Doug Bird. All the way from Newfoundland, Canada. It reminds me of the painting I have just finished of Lovaine Terrace in Alnmouth. I love the bicycle in front of the yellow house!

Happy Birthday to me!

2010-03-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you Ross for this fab birthday card of Morph. It brought back many happy memories of my childhood watching what this cheeky chap was getting up to! I used to love watching Tony Hart and his art demos but was alway disapointed when my work wasn't selected for the gallery at the end of the show!

Morph

2010-03-20T13:12:00.001-07:00

Sally joins the Wishart business.

2010-03-10T06:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome Sally!This month at the studio sees a new face join the Wishart team. The delightful Sally Page is joining me in the studio two days a week to undertake an internship programme. Sally is an Art History graduate who is keen to learn about life and work in the creative sector, and hopefully will teach me a thing or two along the way!

Springing into 2010

2010-02-22T03:42:00.000-08:00

Ross and I have recently returned form exhibiting at Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. We were exhibiting in the card hall along side some fabulous card companies such as Five Dollar Shake, Paper Salad, Alice Palace, Bird and Alex Clarke to name a few. We certainly felt like little fish swimming in a big pond! We had a great week launching our new cards and gained lot of new outlets on the

Race for Life - Joanne Wishart's Fundraising Page

2010-02-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

Well its been a to a sad few months for Ross and I. Firstly losing our wonderful Aunty Susan before Christmas and more recently our fabulous friend Natasha both to Breast Cancer. After feeling totally helpless I decided to enter the Race for Life to try and raise a bit of money to help others. Please give what you can and sponsor me at this wonderful event hosted by Cancer Research UK.Race for

Donkey Ride Anyone??

2010-01-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

It has been a long cold winter so I am introducing three of my new summery card designs to warm you up. I have been working on a new collection cards inspired by the British seaside holiday. My favourite is the donkey image below, we saw some very cute donkeys on Whitby beach this summer that inspired me to paint them!

Best Creative Business

2009-11-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

Wow. I can't believe it I have just picked up an award for the North East Women Entrepreneur of the year in the Best Creative Business category! The awards ceremony was hosted by Women into the Network at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead. It was a glamorous evening dedicated to the North Easts leading female business women, I was in truly great company. It was a real honour to be short listed and a

The Arts Bank

2009-11-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Following the Newcastle / Gateshead Art Fair I have been invited to be one of the featured artists to exhibit in this new project in Saltburn. It will be my first exhibition of original art work for 2010.A BOLD new £500,000-plus exhibition centre coming to Saltburn is set to be a major investment for arts and culture.An empty former bank at Milton Street is being transformed into the new arts

A visit to Staithes

2009-10-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last week Ross and I escaped daily life for a short break in Staithes. We stayed in a beautiful old fishermans cottage within metres of the harbour. During our stay we visited an exciting new project in Salburn called the Art Bank. A former bank building is being converted into a muli level art space to house a cinema and mulitple exhibition spaces to promote the creative sector in the area. I

New Work for the NewcastleGateshead Art Fair

2009-09-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

This is one of my latest paintings of Runswick Bay on the North Yorkshire coast. The painting size is 60x60cm plus frame. If you would like to see this painting or more from my new collection then visit me on Stand P10 with Gallery Three at the NewcastleGateshead Art Fair. The fair is at the Sage in Gateshead and will be open to the public from the 2nd to 4th October 2009 from 11am -5pm. Tickets

East Coast- My Summer Exhibition

2009-09-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed my exhibtion here are a few snaps for you to enjoy!This image on the left is one of three paintings comissioned by Dunoon Ceramics. Look out for the image on their mugs next year. Below are some of my new bird images and a painting of "Staithes Harbour Wall"

Coming Soon......

2009-07-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Come along to Art @ No. 1, Tynemouth for my summer exhibition "East Coast". The doors will be open 10am -5pm daily from Saturday 22nd August to Friday 4th September 2009.The exhibition will be a collection of new paintings from my travels up and down the east coast of England.Also on display will be my limited edition prints and cards. I hope to see you there!

Mugs Mugs Mugs

2009-06-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

This week I was very excited to recieve in the post my new collection of mug designs courtesy of Dunoon Ceramics. Dunoon approached me at Spring Fair earlier this year and ask me if I was interseted in doing some artwork for their Bute range. The "Shore Bird" collection above comprising of a seagull, oyster catcher and puffin design are the first three of six designs that will be on sale at

The Design Room - Launch Night

2009-05-30T01:59:00.000-07:00

Last night saw the opening and the launch of the re-designed 'Design Room' in Wooler. Local, national and international artists' work displayed in a contemporary environment was the focus for over a hundred people who turned out to preview the gallery on the opening night. Proprietors Jason and Claire Gallagher (my wonderful brother and sister in law) have worked hard over the last few weeks to

Bath and Beyond

2009-05-12T13:45:00.001-07:00

The end of April took Ross and I to Bath for the weekend to exhibit at Select@Bath .The long drive was worth it. Bath is a beautiful city and Select was a great show to launch my new collection of bird cards. Swans, Arctic Terns, Red Shanks, Barnacle Geese, Seagulls and Ringed Plovers are all new additions to my popular bird range. On the drive home we stopped off at the Old House Gallery in

Easter weekend at the seaside

2009-04-19T03:08:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was full of coastal walks, beachcombing, and a visit to the beautiful village of Alnmouth. I love coming back to Alnmouth as it holds happy memories for me as I spent most of my summer holidays here as a child visiting my grandparents. On the 27th -28th June this year I will be showing some new coastal work at the Alnmouth Arts Festival. My image of Lovaine Terrace features on the

A trip to the Lake District

2009-03-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

Old Courthouse GalleryLast week Ross and I spent a week in the beautiful Lake District countryside. Whilst in the area we took the opportunity to deliver four of my latest hare paintings to the prestigious OCG Gallery in Ambleside. OCG is one of my favourite galleries. It's spacious layout with wonderful natural light hosts some of the finest artwork, sculpture, jewellery and ceramics in the

A Snowy Spring Fair

2009-02-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

To launch our new range of cards and prints Ross and I ventured south to Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. Of all the weeks it had to snow, road and rail conditions were crazy causing a poor turnout of visitors to the show! However we made the best of this bad situation and made some good new contacts, including the Oldhouse Gallery in Rutland, Seasons Gallery in Durham and the Bluemoon

2009-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Could this be my cottage by the sea?"Craster Cottages"a signed limited edition print by Joanne Wishart. £100 from www.joannewishart.co.uk/shop

A new start for 2009

2009-02-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

Well husband Ross has gone and done it now, left his career in accountancy , (some might say a proper job) to come and work with me.... an artist! 6 weeks in and he is starting to learn the ropes or should I say the printer. Live the dream, work together and grow a business. We have only just begun on our journey but I am excited by what the future holds. Hopefully a creative fulfillment, a