This months pop up artist : Verity Burton

We love to support local artists here at the Garnet Stores and are excited to announce a series of monthly pop up events and window displays featuring some of our favourites. This will be a chance to meet the artist, check out their beautiful work, and pick up some Garnet store exclusives!

First up we have Verity Burton, whose lovely floral inspired cards are very popular with our customers. Verity will be designing us a wonderful window display and holding an evening event here in the store on 10 November from 6pm. We caught up with Verity to talk about her work process and life as a self employed artist living in Norwich…

Veritys Dancing Window Flowers at The Garnet Stores

Tell us a bit about yourself Verity

I’m an artist working from my home studio in Norwich, Norfolk. Inspired by the constant renewal of nature, I work across drawing, painting and print to create personal botanical spaces informed by the walks I take and the places I spend my time in. My creative process very much overlaps with my way of going about the world - I’ve come to the conclusion that my work is one long conversation with myself and with everything around me.

I sell originals and prints of my work, and wholesale a collection of sustainable greetings cards and gift wraps to stockists around the UK and USA. I love running botanical drawing workshops, have been working on wedding invites, and over the last year have got into window art commissions - which I think is my new favourite thing!

I studied BA Fine Art at Falmouth University, and after spending a few years in London I ended up in Norwich a bit unexpectedly.

What made you set up your own business? (and where can we find you?)

I’ve been making work since I graduated from my BA Fine Art in 2012, always alongside full-time jobs. For me, life and art have always been blurred and it has taken me many years of feeling I ought to seperate the two to appreciate the ways that they can inform each other.

It was actually turning 30 a few years ago when I made the conscious decision to set myself up as a business and start doing the things I’d been thinking about - I didn’t want to regret not trying. I still work full time, but now my life is also rich with creative opportunites - you can find me around Norwich teaching workshops, drawing on show windows and guest lecturing at Norwich University of the Arts about digital skills. And you can shop my cards in Garnet Stores as well as a couple of other local stockists!

Who is part of your team?

I’m a one-woman band most of the time but that’s not to say I’m alone in my work. My partner is the best support - he helps with markets and trade shows and always cheerleads me. I have friends who love to visit gardens with me and who will always take a picture of me in front of my work, which makes me feel so loved. I also have the joy of working and collaborating with so many local creatives who make exciting things possible - photographers, ceramicists, shop owners, printers, market organisers. Without all these people, life would be harder and much less fun.

What are your plans for the future?

To relax more, to move more slowly. To keep stepping outside my comfort zone, but to only say yes to opportunities that feel like the right fit. If someone would like to commission me to paint a mural, I would love that!

What’s the best thing about the area you live in?

My favourite thing about Norwich is Eaton Park in cherry blossom season - for two weeks every spring there is the most beautiful ring of trees I could sit under all day.