insideKENT Magazine Issue 67 - October 2017 | Page 32
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE: SHANE RECORD cont.
Fishermen on Hythe Beach
Copper Pots
You’ve run your own gallery in Folkestone
since 2005. What made you decide to open
it? What do you enjoy most about it?
I was working part time at university as a
lecturer and researcher and painting every
spare moment to see if I could develop my
work. The Creative Foundation had started
buying up the derelict properties in
Folkestone’s Old Town and I borrowed the
keys to some of them and hung my paintings
in the windows. After doing this for some
months people started contacting me to buy
my work. The income from my paintings
started to rival my income from university. I
was living in a flat above a shop in The Old
High Street which became empty so I quit
work at the university and took on the shop,
making it my studio gallery. The rest is history.
I love the fact that painting pictures is my job
and that I’ve made an impact on my local
community.
Is it true you’re a self-taught artist?
Yes, although I’ve learned from looking at
others and been inspired by other artists. I
lived with artist students when I went to
university too, but most of them gave up as
soon as they graduated. I’ve followed my own
path really. I’m quite critical of my work but
not so that it paralyses me but more that it
reassures me that I’m improving!
W hat has been your proudest artistic
achievement to date?
My biggest work was commissioned by the
RFU (England Rugby). I entered a selection
process amongst some very well known artists
to produce a 3m by 3m painting for
Twickenham Stadium to commemorate the
players that had fought in the First World War.
I did a lot of research and submitted a proposal;
I would paint the entire 1914 England team as
they were before their final game prior to the
outbreak of war. I would darken the rose on
the shirts of the men who were killed in battle.
I was then chosen to complete the work (it
took six months) and it now hangs
permanently in the Royal Box enclosure.
32
Folkestone Harbour at Dusk
During the unveiling the CEO made a speech
and said I was down-to-earth and easy to deal
with. I was really proud of that.
Where have you exhibited your work?
I tend to be kept very busy in my studio gallery
in The Old High Street, Folkestone. I probably
should try and exhibit elsewhere but I just can’t
be in two places at once! I struggle keeping
enough original work as it tends to sell very
quickly and have a long list of commissions
to do…
What does the rest of 2017 (and beyond) hold
in store for you?
Who knows?! The Folkestone Triennial is on
which always makes me busier and then
there’s Christmas which is always big for me.
I’ve done a few demonstrations in schools this
year which have been great fun and the
interest in doing more of those is growing. I
love painting in front of hundreds of school
children, they get to see an adult prepared to
make a fool of himself and some of them are
really inspired by it. I love that.
Shane Record Paintings
19-21 The Old High Street
Folkestone
CT20 1RL
www.shanerecord.com
Search for Shane Record Paintings