An interview with Victoria Vincent from Vincent and Green
Local, Buckinghamshire-based Victoria hosts pop-up art exhibitions and is a keen champion of local artists.
We are collaborating with Victoria for her next event this September. We are delighted to frame a collection of Sue Graham’s artwork for the event.
Find out more about Vincent and Green and its founder Victoria in the interview below:
What’s the story behind your business name?
Vincent and Green – My surname is Vincent and I am a big Van Gogh fan and Green is my favourite colour, and live in Tylers Green, ‘Boom’ the name was formed. My first exhibition was in Tylers Green in 2014 because it felt safe having the support of our amazing village community backing me.
Victoria Vincent of Vincent and Green
What inspired you to create your business?
Having emerged from the baby years, I started to get twitchy. I never loved working in Management Consultancy, I should have gone into interior design (I studied art at school) but my parents steered me towards a ‘proper job’. I decided my second work life would be more creative.
When living in London, I used to love going to the galleries where I lived, just off the Northcote Road in Clapham. There were also excellent pop-up exhibitions where talented artists would come together in a hall for a weekend and sell their originals for accessible prices. This is when I started collecting art. I love originals, they’re unique and no one else has the exact same one. I often buy whilst on holiday; I like to have mementos from my travels and supporting local creatives. I digress....
After a year or so of living in Buckinghamshire, I noticed there were less galleries, or art shows like the Affordable Art Fair and I started to try and find where everyone was hiding. I eventually found out about Bucks Arts Weeks and started going to artist’s exhibitions. This is where I discovered the mesmerising Sue Graham, the legendary Rosina Flower and the very cool Diane Bedser....and my brain started ticking again...
When did you start Vincent and Green and what do you offer?
In 2014 my father-in-law, who had been poorly for a few years took a turn for the worse. He and I shared a love for buying art on holiday and at exhibitions and I told him I’d love my own gallery. He told me to do it, what’s stopping me?
So, I went to see Sue, Rosina and Diane and asked them if I hired a hall and displayed a group of artist’s work, would they all let me have some paintings, and they agreed and then I went looking for others. I can’t exhibit the work of someone I wouldn’t want on display in my home, so it took me a while, but I got there and on a night in the autumn of 2014 we sold at least one piece by every artist...my husband was gobsmacked!!
The saddest thing was my father-in-law not being there, having passed away a few months earlier. He would have loved it.
What are your biggest artistic influences?
I love all art, like music I don’t have a specific genre I prefer, I’m like a magpie when it comes to hand-made creations. From Picasso to Pollock, glass sculptures to wood carvings, I’d have them all. I make my boys promise not to put it all in a skip when I’m 6ft under!
What are your top tips for buying original artwork?
If you get struck by the thunderbolt and must have it, can afford it and have a place in mind for it - BUY IT. ( I am still haunted by a painting I saw in a Dublin Park where artists were selling their work. It was big and I couldn’t work out how I would get it home on the plane. I should have spoken to the artist about my predicament, I’m sure they’d have suggested taking it out of the frame or perhaps shipping it to me. This was before people had their own websites - things are a lot easier now.)
If you must leave a piece of art behind always get the artists card so you can get in touch later!!
One more thing, the early bird catches the worm. If you’re at a pop-up exhibition and you like something, don’t take too long to make a decision. There is nothing worse than watching someone else’s red dot go on the painting you love.
What is your best advice on choosing art for your home?
I am always stopped in my tracks by creations and if they niggle at me enough, I turn in to Gollum from Lord of the Rings, I must have it!! Obviously, I only get like this about things I can afford, no point lusting after Monet’s Water Lilies, that’s never going to happen.
I don’t ever worry if it’ll go with the house, I love a mash-up of modern and antique, so blending styles is something I’d really encourage. If a painting comes with a frame you don’t like, and it’s stopping you from buying, don’t be afraid to enquire if you can buy it unframed. Remember, frames can always be changed to suit your taste.
What advice would you give to artists who are starting out and looking to exhibit?
I would sign up for local art events such as Bucks Art Weeks and get in touch with local art societies. Maybe try and find a group of artists to exhibit with. It’s personal preference, but I always feel safer in a group and I’m probably more inclined to travel a longer distance to an exhibition if there are 4 or more exhibiting together. Consider starting an Instagram page and post your work on there, connect with the public and gain priceless feedback.
When is your next exhibition and what type of art will be on display?
Our next exhibition starts on the 29th of September 2023 – 1st October 2023. It’s a 3-day event, opening at 10am and closing at 4.30pm.
It’s taking place in the Club House, Beaconsfield Tennis Centre, Grenfell Road, HP9 2BY. There is free parking and free admission.
There will be figurative and abstract paintings, giclee and lino prints on display. Some of the paintings are mixed media, some painted in acrylic or oils. A vast range of sizes and price tags. I always try to show a variety of work with something for everyone in mind. To get an idea of some of the artist’s work that’ll be on display visit www.vincentandgreen.com