SUSTAINABLE ARTISTRY

NAT BOWEN

“As a self-taught artist working from my artist studio, I know that I am solely responsible for the decisions made within my practise. I consider it vital that I consider the social and ecological impact of my decisions. I create large scale artworks so it was important from the very beginning for me to consider the materials I paint on, as this makes up a large proportion of my work.

I work with a non-toxic resin as my medium and having experimented with painting on different substrates, I found acrylic sheet gave me the smooth, even base and non-porous surface I was after. I also wanted some of my artworks to be backlit so the acrylic sheet was ideal as it allowed diffused light to travel through. Whilst the acrylic was functional, I knew it was a material that had a negative impact on the environment and this did not sit well with me.

With some research, in 2017 I came across a company supplying the world’s first 100% recycled and 100% recyclable acrylic sheet which allowed me to choose a sustainable material without compromising the overall look and finish of my artwork. There are still very few company’s offering this sustainable option in contrast to the thousands of companies out there supplying standard acrylic sheet at cheaper prices but at the detriment of our environment. I believe with more sustainable options coming to the marketplace, the more sustainable materials will become the obvious choice, but for now as a consumer, I know I need to be conscious and take the time to seek out the more sustainable options, even if they are harder to find and often costlier…

…The other attitude to take towards sustainability and what I do is longevity. I studied fashion design and worked in the fashion industry before turning my hand to art, and I was witness to many design decisions being made based on cost and fast turnaround, due to the way fashion is consumed in our mass produced, ‘throwaway’ culture. When something is bought at a low cost it seems to become obsolete much more easily which results in so many items ending up in landfill.

This was something I gave a lot of thought to when I started out as an artist. My artworks consist of multiple layers of resin and the process is slow with an artwork taking anywhere between two and four months to finish, with a limited number of artworks painted each year. I knew I wanted my art to have longevity and I could see from my experience that people cared more for and held on longer to objects that they deemed to have more value and uniqueness. The resin and recycled acrylic sheet I work with are fairly expensive so there is some financial value in the materials I use. When the process, the skill and the story of each piece are taken into consideration, the value of the work can be appreciated in another sense. The resin I use is incredibly durable, moisture and UV resistant, has superior clarity and long-term non-yellowing performance. So instead of being destined for the rubbish heap like so many things, the artworks could essentially last, in all their brilliance, indefinitely, perhaps in the hands of a collector or a museum.”

DIANE HILL

“I love the fact that no fuel powered mechanics are needed for my work. It’s just me and my hand and there’s nothing more organically sustainable than that. When someone chooses an artisan to create their work it’s because of the long term beauty of the product - it’s not a mass produced item that’s going to end up on a landfill somewhere as waste.

Interiors are not so heavily trend based as fashion, so the pace of work is much slower, meaning more careful thought can go into each scheme, particularly the longevity and quality of the product. That’s why I love working with brands such as Accouter, who respect every part of the process and are keen to make good choices…

…In a world where mass production is at an all time high, it can be very refreshing to turn to small businesses like mine to aid in the decoration of interiors. Sourcing local artisans for such projects is a great thing for the interior design industry as it lessens the carbon footprint of the project as a whole. My work is completely bespoke from start to finish and is hand made in London, where the vast majority of my projects are based.

Much of my work revolves around depicting scenes of nature which seeks to inspire the viewer by reminding them of the beauty of the natural world around them. I hope they see it and value it inside their home and remember to take care of it with their own decisions. Creating high quality, handmade art for interiors is a very exciting concept for me to be involved in right now, the beauty of the designs I create will be treasured and valued to the point that the mere mention of the idea of replacing or disposing of it would be out of the question. Knowing that my work may still stand in potentially hundreds of years is an amazing feeling, and hopefully the trend for the handmade, locally sourced product continues to reign high.”

JENNIFER MANNERS 

“While visiting our weavers in India a few of years ago, I was shown a beautiful handwoven rug sample that was made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles. I was immediately captivated. However, only months before, my best friend had purchased a throw made from the same recycled plastic fibres and I recalled how she ended up returning it saying “I felt like I was watching TV with a plastic bag wrapped around me”.

Because we as a company operate in the high-end, luxury arena I knew we had the opportunity to take this amazing fibre and improve it to the standard of luxury that our market expected of us. We set to work on improving the fibres to make them softer, durable and even a closer likeness to wool than the original plastic-feeling plastic fibre. Hundreds of attempts later, we developed a new eco-fibre and employed the same hand-knotted quality we use with our rugs.

…The reality is that all of the qualities that make plastic such a nuisance for the environment actually make it an incredibly durable and functional solution for hard-wearing, stain resistant rugs. Function has to be as important as the purpose or it won’t be commercially sustainable in the long run.

Equally, we are committed to crafting handmade rugs that last for generations. What would be the point in using a fibre that lasts forever only employ a style of rug that only lasts a short while before breaking down, which is how many mass-produced rugs and carpets are created and end up in a landfill in any case? That defeats the purpose in our view.

We are thrilled that the luxury sector has received the concept with much enthusiasm. Decorex International created the new ‘Best Sustainable Product’ award because of our /re/PURPOSE collection and awarded it to us as a result. It is a fortuitous start towards a wave that other interiors companies are starting to make.”