Isn’t it blimmin’ amazing what a bit of art can do to a room? As you can see from the before and after photos above, a small gallery wall in our bedroom has completely transformed the space. I really like the fact that the TV is no longer the focus point in the room: it’s camouflaged within the gallery wall, and your eye is drawn to the pieces around it, rather than the TV itself. But most of all, I love the individual prints and the stories behind them. The map you can see at the top? It’s a map titled ‘Lyra’s Oxford’ which I found inside the Philip Pullman book of the same name. It means all the more as we named our little girl Lyra after the character in Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy. Here’s where I found the other pieces, and some of my favourite independent art stores.

1. Favourite Independent Art Stores {Ink and Honey}

I bought this print of a mum cuddling a little boy when Jenson was a newborn, and it’s my favourite piece of art in the house. I’ve since bought the Poppy print for my friend whose daughter is called Poppy, and the Sweetpea print for my auntie, who still calls me Sweetpea.

2. Favourite Independent Art Stores {Tea and Kate}

Another of my fave pieces of art is a Saar Manche print that I’ve hung in my kitchen. It’s of a mum and little girl holding bunches of eucaluptus and it always makes me think of MY little girl when she’s at school. It’s no longer available, but the Market Day print by Saar Manche from Tea and Kate is just as beautiful.

3. Favourite Independent Art Stores {Yellowstone Art Boutique}

Back in the day, before Rich and I had kids, and when we used to have the time/inclination/organisational skills to cycle to work, I bought him this print. (It’s the one at the bottom left of the gallery wall above). It’s from Yellowstone Art Boutique and it reads:

“I like you so much,
I’d even let you ride my bike,
But you’d have to wear a helmet,
Because I care about your head”.

Cute, hey?

4. Favourite Independent Art Stores {The Red Door Art Gallery}

I’m always on the lookout for indie art shops when I’m on holiday. When Rich and I visited Edinburgh many moons ago we discovered The Red Door Art Gallery, which is where the prints in my lounge are from.

5. Favourite Independent Art Stores {L’Affiche Moderne}

This French store sells THE most beautiful whimsical prints. I’m eyeing up their Paris print for our guest bedroom.

6. Favourite Independent Art Stores {East End Prints}

At the Stylist Live event last November I spent ages oohing and aahing over the East End Prints stall and eventually treated myself to this metallic London print, which at £20 I’m sure you’ll agree is a bloody bargain. (It also comes in pink). I plan to hang it next to a lamp so as to make the most of the shimmery gold foil.

7. Favourite Independent Art Stores {Emma Hardicker}

I spent several years living in the Brummie suburb of Moseley after university, so it’s always going to have a special place in my heart. This Moseley print hung above the fireplace in our last house, and Emma’s posters of Bristol and Manchester are lovely too.

8. Favourite Independent Art Stores {Karin Akesson Design}

And finally, another discovery from Stylist Live. My friend Stylish Su snapped up this print and I’m tempted to do the same. You can’t BUT smile when you look at it.

What’s your favourite piece of art in your house?
Which are your fave indie art retailers?

AFTER
AFTER
BEFORE
BEFORE