Artist Feature: Interview With Falmouth Artist & Painter Aimee Shardlow

When Aimee reached out to create a window display for us, we were blown away by her beautiful landscape paintings of Falmouth, abstract style and bold mark-making. She’s created a spring-inspired window display for us in her classic light blue, soft pink and taupe colour palette, painting flowers and dynamic waves shapes onto the window. Find out more about Aimee’s painting process, her time as a Falmouth fine art student and her advice for aspiring artists in our interview below:

Hi Aimee! What made you reach out to us to create a window display?

Having been a follower of Salt Art Supply for some time, I have always admired the dedication and determination that both Rhianna and Nyassa have put into the shop. As ex-students themselves, it is really encouraging and inspiring to see how successful they have both been in setting up their own business. I buy a lot of my supplies from the shop too, from my usual stock of paints to finding little gems that help me experiment out of my usual style. My most favourite purchase has to be the little Winsor and Newton landscape watercolour set - it’s so easy to take with me whenever I’m painting en plein air! Having somewhere local to shop for good quality art supplies always feels like such a treat.

Salt Art Supply’s window displays are always so creative and really stand out to me whenever I walk past in town. I really wanted to become a part of the shop’s journey and thought creating my own window display would be a great way of connecting my practice with the store. As an emerging artist and an ex-student, I also appreciate how important it is to create opportunities and connections with local people to help grow my own practice. I really wanted to test the limits of my practice and see how I could translate my typical landscape work into a window display. I love experimenting with drawing and have really enjoyed learning new skills through this experience, which I’m excited to use in future projects as well!

I feel very grateful that Rhianna and Nyassa have trusted me in designing one of their window displays and I have had a lot of fun in doing so. I’m just hoping I’ve done the shop justice!

Can you tell us a little bit about your painting art practice and where you find inspiration from?

My practice is driven by my love of the sea. It sounds very cliche, I know, for a landscape painter to say that, but it is honestly true.

I create artwork built from abstract layers of paint, coming together to produce a painting that is more than just the act of replication. I'm fascinated with the elapsing of time and love to play with place, travel and movement within my work, using paint and dynamic mark-making to help show and manipulate time. The landscape is always changing and I try to capture this in my work, especially in my pieces of the Cornish coastal landscape. 

Typically I use acrylic paints to create my paintings, enjoying the use of an acrylic thickener to build texture, however recently I am learning to love oils. If you’re a painter and haven’t made the switch, I highly recommend! You just can’t beat the richness of colour in oil! Palette knives are another great way in which I build texture and depth in my work. It is actually very rare that you will find me painting an entire piece by brush!

We know you’re a recent Falmouth University graduate — what was your experience like studying at Falmouth and how did your work develop there?

I loved my time at Falmouth University, I couldn’t recommend it more! No one really prepares you for how it will feel once you are no longer a student and I have to say, I really miss it.

The course itself gave me so many opportunities to throw myself into and it's this which I believe makes the Fine Art degree course feel so supportive and unique. Whilst at Falmouth, I was very fortunate to complete three artist residencies, one at Porthmeor Studios in St Ives (I mean what better location for a painter!) and another in Cyprus (I think this one speaks for itself). All of these opportunities encouraged my practice to develop and grow, providing me with the chance to connect with other local artists and collaborate alongside them as well. I learnt to have confidence in my practice and trust the creative process. 

I have to mention as well the business support from Launchpad on Penryn campus. Although separate to my Fine Art degree, I really valued the encouragement and support from the business tutors here for helping me to establish my business. I have to say, my business skills and knowledge are pretty minimal, but I'm really proud of the small steps I'm slowly making to create my art business. 

As a student, Falmouth is really great. It really is very unique to be able to go to a lecture in the morning and then be swimming in the sea shortly after. Now I’m no longer a student, I love using more of my time to explore Cornwall as a whole and find the hidden gems that make this place so special. 

We totally agree, Falmouth is so special! What made you stay here after graduating?

I think the location absolutely speaks for itself. Yes, most days of the year are rainy, stormy or just meh, but those days where the sun comes out really remind me how great it is to be living in Cornwall. 

Originally from South London, it really couldn’t be anymore different down here, but I love it! The move to Cornwall for me was right after Covid, and as much as I hate to bring up that time again, I always wonder whether it was that period that pushed me to move down here. I was really drawn to that slower pace of life, and I mean, who wouldn’t want to move closer to the sea! 

My practice is completely intertwined with this place, using it as direct inspiration for my compositions and paintings. I enjoy travel, but ultimately I am always drawn back to the Cornish coastline. I may move back to London eventually, but for now nothing quite beats waking up and being so close to the sea. As long as my practice depends on it, I think I’ll be sticking around for a while. 

Do you have any tips or advice for budding artists or painters?

I think my biggest piece of advice is just ‘do as much as you can’. It sounds really silly and also probably very daunting and exhausting, but it’s true!

There are moments when I wonder if it’s all possible and get frustrated by my lack of business knowledge, experience or even just reach on social media, but I just have to remind myself that it is a journey. Nothing will happen overnight, but there is so much that you can put yourself forward for that will definitely help. Speak to people, connect, reach out. You’d be surprised how willing and kind people can be and how much people want to help your practice grow. Apply for the residencies, even if it’s scary, see if you are successful in a gallery open call. I always think, ‘what if’. A year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d still be in Cornwall, let alone trying to set up my own business. Trust time and just see what happens. 

Thanks for answering all our questions Aimee! What are you working on now and do you have any exhibitions lined up?

Right now, I’m working on two exhibitions that are coming up in the next month. I’ve got my first solo exhibition at Inspire Makers, Falmouth from the 29th April - 31st May, and then another in Padstow soon after! It’s very exciting when you have things lined up to look forward to and prepare for, and it definitely gives me the push to create. 

I’m working on my marketing skills behind the scenes, this is one that will forever baffle me, but I’m hoping that one day I will understand how Instagram algorithms work! For now, I’ll muddle through and just experiment until I crack the code. I'm also really looking forward to warmer, brighter days where I can take my paints back onto the beach and not freeze myself to death at the same time!

Thank you so much Aimee for taking the time to answer all our questions and create our beautiful spring window display! You can find more of Aimee's work on her website www.aimeeshardlowart.com and on her Instagram @aimeeshardlowart

Aimee’s window display will be up until the end of April at Salt Art Supply — come and visit us at 24 Killigrew Street in Falmouth, or follow us on Instagram @saltartsupply for a closer look at Aimee's final window display and more from our little art and stationery shop by the sea.