Launching a new gallery…thanks to my fab parents

Both of my Kiwi parents are lovers of art and creativity.

My Mum was trained as a florist, eventually she became a designer of planting plans in their jointly owned landscaping company. In her spare time she loves taking photographs of plants, flowers and all things nature-related and she has no limit to how many crafty things she is accomplished at (sewing, knitting, rug making etc). I find her utterly inspiring.

My Dad and I can speak for hours about art and artists, specially the Masters. Having gained a Batchelor of Arts degree majoring in Art History in the early seventies, as far back as I can remember, there have always been stacks of books on art, design and art history strewn about the house for me to discover and devour. It was a great way to grow up. I was always encouraged to expand my knowledge of art, form my own views on what I discovered about art and artists, and to enhance my own creative skills in drawing, painting and photography (and of course learning crafts from my Mum).

My parents are ‘Kiwi Hippy’s’ at heart, almost bohemian…I get my love of non-conformists from my Dad. As a result of this broadminded thinking, their friends were often creative…painters, print-makers, sculptors, potters, writers, poets, art teachers, woodworkers, architects, landscape designers, jewellers, musicians and the like.

With that upbringing how on earth could I have ended up anywhere else, but in cultural London, launching an online art gallery, representing extraordinary non-conformist artists? It was set in stone from the beginning when I think about it.

So, here we are, it’s the ‘day after the night before’. Last night (Saturday 3rd December 2022) we let the world know The FTSQ Gallery existed. Only a month after being asked by Lukas Almassy, GM of private members fitness club Iron Bodyfit-Battersea (where I receive EMS Fitness training once a week) we showcased four of our founding artists in a pop-up gallery that Lukas had asked us to curate for members to enjoy at their Christmas Party (and for the rest of December 2022).

It has been an amazing journey so far, but I’m just at the beginning. There is so much I intend to do, additional pieces, new artists, loads of interesting content and I can’t wait to get going with it all.

Please come along for the ride. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. There’s going to be plenty to look at over the coming weeks, months and years.

I am dedicating this blog to Bruce and Marg Robinson (my long suffering parents ha ha), who have never wavered in their support of my dream, who have been there through the good, the bad and the ugly, and who have never, for one minute questioned my instincts and my ability to succeed. I am truly blessed to have two parents that I consider to be my closest friends and confidents.

Let’s do this Big B and Marg. I hope I’m going to make you proud of having a bonkers, manic, chatty daughter like me. I hope I am your ‘art legacy’. xx