One of these treasures can be found in a cheery splash of colour across the back of a hardware store. This is one of the coziest spaces in town – with nearly two years under its belt, the Hive Gallery is run lovingly by Honey Pegg. Stuffed with the personalities of many local artists, the small shop is a welcoming Aladdin’s Cave.
Honey has always been artistic, with her first foray into the professional world coming when she trained as a master picture framer in her teens. This time, she felt that she wanted to offer everyone an equal platform that perhaps other galleries and art stores might not.
Lorna Page says that the income she receives through the gallery selling her art pays for her studio.
‘I can’t really look at someone’s work and decide not to show it just because I don’t like it. It’s an expression – everyone should have a chance to express themselves.’
‘I had my little chart, and it looked pretty sad for the first year. But I put a lot of myself and my own money into this, and slowly that little line is going up.’
‘I’m reading a book on small businesses, and literally the first few pages say not to rely on word of mouth – but that’s not completely right.’
Paint & Pixel’s Phil Heiron is another regular artist at the Hive.
‘Everyone always tells me they wish they could set up their own business. It’s just always I wish, I wish, but they don’t realise that they can!’ Research is key, she notes. ‘Know your potential competitors, and see what your unique selling point is. Also, write a list of pros and cons so that you know where you’re coming from.’
Seize the moment – sometimes you’ll find it was meant to be.
