The exhibition of prints by Katie Ballard at Crumps Barn Studio in Cirencester towards the end of 2022 was inspiring for many reasons. First and foremost because of the strong public response to her work. Visitors loved the colour and pattern in her prints, and were fascinated by some of the backstories behind the pieces which appear here in Katie’s blog – Fuelled Up, for example, with the personal history behind the wheelbarrow.
She also inspired me personally. I’m Lorna Brookes, the owner of book publisher Crumps Barn Studio, and when I first moved premises to No. 2 The Waterloo in Cirencester, I knew that I would like to use the wall space as an exhibition space. My background is Fine Art, although I am not an artist myself, and I knew I wanted to use the opportunity of my move into Cirencester to host artists who are developing their professional practice. I was however only envisaging this taking the form of one or two works here and there – until Katie stepped in through the door within the first few days of our opening and I looked up her collection of work on Instagram.
With very little notice, Katie was brave enough to step up to the task of becoming the first artist to take possession of the walls in the shop for a solo show. I immediately loved her work for its simplicity of form and perfect use of colour and design. Between us, we selected work on a botanical, or garden theme. The clean lines of Malvern Mistletoe are matched by the perfect disarray of The Cutting Table. I was delighted when the exhibition ended to be allowed to retain two pieces – Greenhouse Stroke Shed and Malvern Mistletoe – for the permanent collection. We also now stock a selection of her cards.
Katie will be one of the principal artists in our February exhibition – a Festival of Cats. She’ll be bringing new, never exhibited before work to the shop for the show, and I can’t wait.