An Interview with Jill Rhatigan
Tell me a little about your background?
I left school at 16 yrs old and have been self employed ever since! Entrepreneurism has always been in the family – all my siblings have their own businesses too. I owned an event management agency for over 10 years and whilst building this company up, I bought the Feversham Arms with some other investors where I would attend board meetings only. In late 2006 I sold my event management company and began a large house restoration project until in 2008, the Feversham was evolving at that time with lots of building projects until late 2008 it opened Verbena Spa and the new suites so I invested back into the hotel and became the full time Marketing Director. I now have sold my shares in the Feversham to concentrate on my love of art... I hope to expand the business in time and Liquid Amber be known in lots of places in Yorkshire
What motivated you to open Liquid Amber Gallery?
If you could see my house then you’d understand my love for art, I started with unknown artists collecting their originals, with some embellished print pieces and some framed prints then as my tastes altered, my knowledge grew I began to appreciate lots of different artists that we have in the gallery today. As we expanded the hotel, naturally we needed art for the walls, I would look out for pieces all the time, travelling all over the UK and started a sort of “Animillia” theme with lots of Meerkats, Cows, Hares and Rabbits throughout the hotel in various specialist aqua tints, vibrant etchings, charcoals and mixed-media collage effect artworks which then prompted absolutely loads of enquiries from guests – hence the idea of selling quality, stylish and different art to our customers and non residents.
What was your first encounter with the world of selling art?
Gosh that’s going to take some thinking about! – it would have to be a visit to a gallery in Bath, I would be approx 19yrs old and I can remember feeling a little uneasy, the gallery was incredibly posh (or so I thought at the time) with its white walls and clean lines, no background music, just the noise of your shoes on the lime-washed wooden floor. I have to say I didn’t buy anything, it was a bit intimidating I think, but I did get into a habit of visiting art galleries in towns on my travels.
What do you love most about Art?
When you find a painting or piece of object that really makes you feel happy and all those memories of buying it come flooding back when you pass it in the hall, or perhaps on the sideboard, even ten years later - you feel the love for it just the same as you did the first day you bought it - Magic!
What kind of artists do you find yourself drawn to?
Various really, I do love artists which make you remember your past fondly, or perhaps your children or a place you have visited with a love one. Lately I love the works of Andrew Macara RBA, NEAC because of his ability to absolutely capture the sunlight and shadows so beautifully – we have a couple left of his at the moment I think I might just buy one for myself!
What differentiates Liquid Amber Gallery from other Galleries?
We aren’t stuffy or intimidating, my passion is to create galleries which are approachable, with fine original art that changes all the time, so you never quite know what to expect next time you pop in. Currently we have taken down our exhibition at The Feversham Arms Hotel, but our York Gallery is becoming much more popular with people so I hope to xpand into other sites in the near future. I do hope to appeal to art lovers, art collectors and perhaps those who at the moment don’t know what they like but still get enjoyment from looking.
How do you find the artists you represent and what type of art do you display?
It takes quite a lot of research, and something I would call “getting your eye in” – you know when you look for that special outfit for a friends wedding, you just need to keep your eyes peeled because you will only find it when you aren’t really looking! I concentrate on original art, from £250 to £5000 which all come with a certificate of authenticity because we work direct with the artists and often collect pieces from their studios or artists come to us to view their works hanging.
What skills have you found to be essential for opening/owning an Art Gallery?
I am by nature an entrepreneur so that obviously helps! I would say you need to love the subject and have the drive and determination of an Olympian!