An amateur artist has turned his love for painting in to a business and has set up his own art studio in North Shields town centre.
George Shotton, 60, has spent his life painting and creating pieces of art but the father of four has decided that the time is now right to make a living from his hobby and has opened the doors to Worpaint Studios.
Worpaint Studios features an eclectic collection of George’s own work which includes his humorous take on well-known vintage advertisements to wooden cut outs of famous pop icons, alongside traditional acrylic portraits.
George, who has painted since he was a young boy, has seen his work hung from the walls of regional museums and galleries, but in recent years he has faced some personal difficultiesand has spent a number of years out of work. However, art has remained a huge part of his life and in many ways he believes it has helped him to steer through these troubled times.
Having been referred to an art therapy group in North Shields to help him to cope with his problems, George was able to help others on the course to improve their own painting techniques and quickly became a volunteer helper, which went a long way to help himregain confidence and belief in his work.
He said: “I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember but when I was a lad in Shields, you just didn’t really work as an artist, it wasn’t a proper job! So when I left school at the age of 14, I eventually found work as a screen printer. But I wasn’t the easiest teenager and sitting cleaning metal for hours on end in a dark basement just didn’t cut it for me. So I retrained as a tool and cutter grinder and whilst I enjoyed it, I would spend my lunch hours making pieces of art with the machinery.”
Over the years George has had a number of careers, setting up his own window cleaning business, running a bar in Spain and working as a security guard on the doors of the bars of the coast, but none of these jobs really made him happy like he is when painting.
He added: “I’ve always made time for art and kept a small studio space wherever I’ve lived, but I never really thought it could be a way to make a living. It’s been a tough few years but art has kept me going and I’m really hoping that this studio marks a turning point in my life.”
George has been supported by North Tyneside Council’s The Business Factory which has helped him to create a workable business plan and provided help and advice about funding and finance.
He said: “I’m keen to support other local amateur artists and I’m hoping to be able to offer them hanging space inside the studio and hopefully give them the break that they too need.”
You can find George creating pieces of art at Worpaint Studios on Saville Street every day from 10.30 am until 7pm. As well as selling the pieces he has on display, together with a range of mugs and plaques featuring his work, George also takes commissions.
The post Worpaint Studios appeared first on The Business Factory.