HANNAH SMITH
Can you tell us a bit about your work?
I am a painter based in Vault Artists Studios, East Belfast. I paint abstract and figurative works, or a mix of the two. The paintings are getting bigger and more ambitious, I feel i’m getting close to where I want to be with my practice. I sell original paintings and prints mostly through instagram, from my website and at the odd Belfast market.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to set up your own business?
I studied Technical Arts and Special Effects at Wimbledon College of Art. During my final year, I realised a career in the film/television and theatre industry wasn’t for me. I didn't want to be a tiny cog in a massive machine, having little to no say over what I created.
The thought that I would just be fulfilling briefs set by someone else for the rest of my life left me feeling deflated. It was then I knew I wanted to gain recognition for my own work and have full control over what I made and when, to have the freedom to experiment and try new things.
While living in London I took up odd jobs and started sign writing for local pubs. Six months after graduating I moved to Belfast and joined Vault studios. I’ve been living in Belfast for over two years now and am constantly overwhelmed with the support I have received from studio members, locals, online and social media, people I meet walking the dog, and people kind enough to invest in my work.
Growing my business has been a big learning curve for me but I’m so glad I get to meet so many fantastic people along the way.
What/who influences/motivates you?
I take influence from Society and community, I want my work to be relevant for what's happening in the world now. All of my personal experiences feed and filter through into my work one way or another, things I see and places I go. I see my paintings as stills from a film, a means to express a narrative. I take lots of my own photos and use them to build new ideas, sometimes it’s an image that I reference heavily or its literally a picture of a wall with an interesting colour or texture. I can really connect and relate to a song and think ‘thats what I want someone else to feel when they look at my painting, how do I do that?’
What has been your biggest hurdle and your proudest moment or accomplishment with your business so far?
The biggest hurdle so far has been getting to a point of selling my work and knowing people like and want to buy it. You can make and make without knowing if what you’re making is any good, when you work on your own, for yourself, it’s hard to gauge what's good or not, you can lose sight of what you're doing and why you're doing it.
I know I have many hurdles ahead but joining a studio collective as awesome as Vault has been so important for establishing myself in Belfast. I recently won an open call which was really exciting, folks voted for their favourite painting through instagram. It’s great to gain support like that from people you don’t know. So I’ll be exhibiting at the Brick Lane Gallery in London in the next few months (Brick Lane was a favourite teen hang out spot of mine, street food, vintage shops and curry nights! )
Could you give some advice for any young, emerging entrepreneurs?
keep going. Sometime you feel like you’re wasting your time, not getting anywhere or that all you work has been for nothing. But it’s not, take every set back as a step forward. I looked back through the archives recently and am now seeing parallels between work I made years ago and work I make now.
I still struggle with motivation and confidence but hold onto all the small victories and remind yourself how much you’ve achieved. It’s easy to take rejections personally because sometimes you can’t help but feel you deserve a chance.
Explore your options, seek help, share your knowledge with others in hope that they will do the same for you. If you love doing something, dedicate time to it because it will pay off!
You can find their work at http://hannahsmith.uk/
Instagram : @paintsofhannah