“WE ARE lucky to be in such a lovely part of the world, the gateway to the Dales - Skipton is full of artists.”
Mark Tennant runs The Art Shop in the North Yorkshire market town, supplying art and craft materials to the local creative community, as well as selling online to artists across the world.
The shop, on Newmarket Street - our Telegraph & Argus Trader of the Week - sells a wide range of products from paint and drawing items to pens and inks, clay and modelling material, to art storage and measuring and cutting equipment.
“The majority of our customers are regulars, some have been coming in since we opened,” says Mark. “If my wife and I are ever out and about in Skipton people often come up to us, knowing us from the shop.”
He adds: “We see people who are just beginning to paint or draw, many who enjoy art as a hobby and quite a few professional artists among our customers too. We have seen some people go from amateur to professional, after realising that they can paint or sculpt and are able to make a living from it.”
Mark comes from a family of artists who set up a business selling art materials in North and West Yorkshire, where they have been trading in different locations for more than a century. But, growing up, his interests lay elsewhere.
“My father and grandfather were artists but I always liked engineering and motorsport,” he says. “I did help my dad picture framing for a while but went on to become an agricultural engineer. I then got a job in Germany working for Toyota motorsport team which was an amazing job, I loved it.”
Work took Mark away from his family back in Yorkshire, so once he took on the Skipton shop, which has been in the Tennant family since 1996, he made a decision to remain at home.
“I see far more of my family now,” he says “My son Jonny and daughter Chloe both work in the business - Jonny is digital manager and Chloe works in our warehouse in Silsden, which is where I am also based. My wife Susan also helps, working part-time in the office.”
Other staff members include Amy, Lyndsey and Caroline, with Lisa, Carolyn, Jane and Meg working in the shop. They are all keen artists. “They can help customers and also offer advice," says Mark. "At one time I thought running an art shop was all about retail but it’s not at all. People like to come in and talk about art - we are a bit of a social hub for artists and can advise them whether professionals or beginners.”
For anyone starting off, Mark recommends buying only the basics. “The thing about art is there are so many mediums, drawing, painting, sculpture. Whatever your interest, if you start small you can always add to it and if it doesn’t suit you, you haven’t invested your life savings in it.
He adds: “Art, in whatever medium, is therapeutic - people say that an hour’s session passes as quickly as five minutes.”
The Art Shop is housed in a stone-built Grade ll-listed former stables which once served a coaching inn.
The business launched online in 2012 and does a roaring trade, with custom increasing dramatically throughout lockdown.
“We were extremely busy - more so than we have ever known,” says Mark. “Initially we furloughed some staff but that did not last long - we had to bring everyone back to the warehouse where we had six packing stations on the go simultaneously. I was working from 4.30am to 5pm every day to keep up with it all.
“Without doubt people’s interest in art took off in lockdown and it has not waned since.”
Products are shipped across the world, as far afield as Australia, Papua New Guinea and the USA.
Around October customers - both online and in the shop - start thinking about Christmas gifts, says Mark. “In the past gift sets would be popular but now people seem to put more thought into presents and tailor them to suit the recipient. They buy paints tubes, brushes and a pad and put together a kit themselves.”
The shop participates in creative exhibitions in different areas of the country to showcase their products. “We go as far north as Glasgow and south to Exeter,” says Mark.
Despite being surrounded by artists’ trappings, Mark has still not taken up the brush himself. “Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t have time,” he says.
His granddaughter Connie, looks to be following the family tradition.
“She is showing real promise and loves painting. She goes to nursery and immediately wants to get the paints out," he says. "Her brother Albie is five and, like me as a child, he likes playing with his cars, but he also enjoys crafts.”
Mark loves running the business. “It’s busy and like every business it brings challenges, but it is really enjoyable, every day is different.”
*theartshopskipton.co.uk; The Art Shop, 22 Newmarket St, Skipton BD23 2JB
*Would you like to see your shop or business as T&A Trader of the Week? Email helen.mead@nqyne.co.uk or emma.clayton@nqyne.co.uk
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