Red Lace - a story of a painting
A simple story of a painting.
Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures of living in this beautiful county that bring a lingering smile, such as looking forward to the casual, yet dynamic blooming of the wild poppies in June. The impact can be just a single lost flower or the invasion of a whole field swathed in red.
But usually it’s a graceful lacing of the field edges - red heads of delicate crepe paper petals bobbing in the breeze.
This June on a winding lane from Edgefield, near Holt, there was a particularly wonderful field of poppies - so inspiring I had to paint the view.
Launch of 'Linear Lands' Original Oil Paintings Collection
2020 saw the start of a whole new portfolio of paintings for artist Jac Scott. Fluid Lands emerged through the lockdown as the artist was able to dedicate significant studio time to developing the new work with pigments and wax. The Storm Collection was the initial response now followed by Linear Lands.
Each work is a unique response to local Norfolk sea and land scapes.
Inspiration - Linear Lands Collection
North Norfolk, with its big skies and undulating vistas, specialises in creating layered wide and sinuous bands of landscape.
There is a rhythmic poetry where the bands of interest stretch across the land forming stripes of colour, texture and form. This striping delineates and dissects the panorama leading to an inspiration that explodes across the canvas - broad strokes of emotion and energy captured in paint.
Technique - Encaustic Painting
The ancient method of encaustic art was practiced by the Greeks and Egyptians with 2000 year old examples still in existence. Wax and pigments are fused with heat which dries quickly capturing brush strokes, drips and textures. Encaustic art is an all consuming very physical practice. One is seduced by the process of not just applying paint with a brush, palette knife or hands, but also the harnessing of heat to energise materials and move the liquids around. The fluidity of the process allows the materials to mix and metamorphose.
East View, Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk
The coastal path elevates the walker to view a wide vista of lines on the landscape where reeds, stream, bank, grass, hedge and sky form natural bands.
Phacelia, Hindolveston, Norfolk
Bands of wonder in a local meadow where phacelia forms a lacy border to rustling wheat, dwarfed by a row of Scots pines.
Phacelia is a wonder plant. It has beautiful scented purple flowers with dense fern-like foliage. It smothers weeds and has an extensive root system that improves soil structure - it is often used as a green manure. It grows quickly showing blooms for 6-8 weeks - providing an excellent cut flower and one of the top flowers for bees and hoverflies.
Cushy Number
Mick doesn’t like cushions. We only have 3! I have to fight to get a cushion in our home - the joy of two designers living together and curating a home together.
So when I design a cushion it has to be special, not just a little bit but full blown special, so that it earns its place in our home or our gallery. Every aspect is considered, every detail scrutinised and analysed for what it brings to the design - the same as for our lighting and furniture.
So for the Raw Luxe Collection expect sumptuous cushions in antique and vintage fabrics, beautifully made by our professional seamstress, with a strong attention to detail.
Each cushion has our branded vegan leather label plus a washing instruction label inside. A British-made, hollow fibre cushion pad (filing complies with BS 5852 part 2) is included in the price.
Each of our cushions are unique designs making them worthy style contributors to your ever evolving home.
By the way they’re also great for snuggling up to.
Expect to discover a range of antique textiles including handwoven linens from France, fine English embroideries and cut work plus vintage cotton velvets.
French Antique Linen
The frugal living conditions of the French peasants meant that many wove cloth on narrow looms in thei
r own homes. These highly covetable cloths were often made into sheets with a join down the middle. Hemp was relatively easy to grow and turn into fibre, making it an obvious choice for country folk with little means. These antique linens are usually rough with a slub texture and have a variance in the tightness of the weave.
Repeated washing will help break down the fibres to create a softer cloth and laundering also changes the dark beige colour to a softer creamy white.
Raw Luxe Collection
Our Raw Luxe products specialise in creating contemporary atmospheric interiors that exude a faded grandeur. The Collection celebrates the tactile and sensuous qualities of old fabrics with their natural imperfections and worn narratives. We source antique and vintage textiles that capture a palpable sense of history in their weave and drape, then mix them to create new interfaces for interior accessories - thus making enduring and unique style statements.
All the creations in the Raw Luxe Collection are one-offs, we may be able to find and make something similar that happily partners another, but none will be exactly the same.
Each cushion is created from softly faded, vintage velvet that has been utopiaised to create an individual pattern on the front face. The velvet is 'framed' with a flange of French antique linen. The reverse is made of the same antique fabric with a deep envelope to contain the cushion pad.
Launch of Fluid Lands: original oil & wax paintings by Jac Scott
Fluid Lands
All artworks in this collection are originals by Jac Scott.
Utopia do not create prints from these paintings.
Encaustic Art
The ancient method of encaustic art was practiced by the Greeks and Egyptians with 2000 year old examples still in existence. Wax and pigments are fused with heat which dries quickly capturing brush strokes, drips and textures. Encaustic art is an all consuming very physical practice. One is seduced by the process of not just applying paint with a brush, palette knife or hands but also the harnessing of heat to energise materials and move the liquids around. The fluidity of the process allows the materials to mix and metamorphose.
Artist’s Inspiration
The collection is a narrative from the Covid-19 lockdown where the staying home mantra led to a visceral response in oil paint and wax, to places long remembered. No longer able to embrace the wide vistas of the Norfolk sea and land scapes, that the artist’s spirit yearned to revisit, she decided to indulge in some highly emotive abstracted work that would kindle a long repressed flame.
FREE CARRIAGE in April 2020
Would you like chocolate or free carriage for EASTER?
Whilst we are in this pandemic we thought we'd spread some cyber good will.
During APRIL we have removed all carriage charges so you can purchase your favourite Utopia creation and enjoy free postage. We know it won't solve the pandemic but it's a gesture to show appreciation to all our loyal clients.
To get free shipping please enter the following code at the checkout
APRIL 2020 free carriage
For all small businesses it is particularly difficult at this time, so if you can support any of us this year, we know it will make a difference.
Tulips from Amsterdam
Since the 17th century tulips have been a popular flower with their wonderful palette of hues and wide variety of shapes. Today, tulips are readily available and reliable to provide a burst of saturated colour on demand. The flowers originated from the Ottoman Empire and were circulated around Europe in 1500s growing in fashion until their peak in the early 1600s in The Netherlands when an era named Tulip Mania erupted. Then tulips were regarded as an exotic luxury associated with good taste and learning by the wealthy Dutch merchant classes.
During the Dutch Golden Age in 17th century, the flowers were so fashionable that they were traded for extortionate amounts and featured in classic paintings as voluptuous blooms. The tulips were hard to cultivate with the desired stripe (which much later was discovered to be caused by a virus) hence demand grew leading to bulbs commanding high prices.
Dutch master by Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt
Tulip Mania is a new floral lamp shade design by Jac Scott featuring bunches of tulips in a painterly style, with a nod to this period in Dutch history. The range is available in various colour palettes: salmon, blue, red and purple with tints and tones blending throughout the design. On our website the designs are available with a clear lining, whilst at the gallery you can also have the choice of a coloured lining at a small extra cost. The clear designs have a dreamy quality when lit, whilst the lined option presents more of a saturated palette.
Tulip Mania: SALMON design in 30cm drum
. Tulip Mania: BLUE design in 20cm drum
. Tulip Mania: RED empire shade
. Tulip Mania: PURPLE oval drum shade
Covid 19
Since we created our little business 6 years ago we have been delighted not only at how it has grown, but also at how many great clients have supported our venture.
Moving to Holt High Street last year was a huge step for us, enabling us to fulfil our design ambitions, and that has worked out fabulously despite the Brexit et al uncertainty. This year Covid 19 is testing the world.
All of us are facing this difficult and worrying time together and we want to assure you that the safety and wellbeing of our lovely customers and staff, as always, is a priority. We have had to make the very difficult decision to temporarily close the shop, so that we do not contribute to the spread of the virus.
Whilst we have this opportunity we plan to devote significant time to being creative - working on new designs and artwork that will fill the gallery with even more Utopia! As we create, we will post on our website and on social media, so please check in regularly to see what we’ve been up to. If you have an idea and want to explore its possibilities with us, then please get in touch as we are still accepting commissions.
If there is a product you want that is too big or too heavy to be delivered, then you can purchase it online and arrange collection at your convenience after we are able to open the gallery again. We have arranged extra storage during these next few months.
Our online business is operating as normal and we ask that you continue to support our unique business by purchasing your favourite Utopia creations online. All small independent businesses are particularly vulnerable at this time and we hope you are able to support many of us to make sure we can come through this test.
Please monitor the CONTACT US page on this website for the latest news. Please do not phone the gallery as no one will be there - always email.
We stay hopeful that the situation will improve and that by all of us acting sensibly, and caring for others, a tragedy can be averted. To those that are affected we send our deepest sympathy and regard for a return to good health.
This is a gift of time, so we plan to enjoy the garden even more and maybe have time to weed it! The stairs might actually get finished and Jac’s bicycle will get dusted off - no excuse now. Moss always has lots of exercise but we’re sure he’ll enjoy the extra company. Local help groups need volunteers so we’re going to join in and do our bit. What will you do with this gift of time?
Please take care and do something that brings you joy every day to ease the worry.
Old Narratives Rewoven
Raw Luxe Collection 2020
We're delighted to announce the launch of a NEW COLLECTION of our designs - the Raw Luxe Collection. This collection offers luxurious antique and vintage textiles given the Utopia treatment to bring them into the contemporary fold.
Raw Luxe specialises in creating contemporary atmospheric interiors that exude a faded grandeur with a twist of casual chic. The Collection celebrates the tactile and sensuous qualities of old fabrics with their natural imperfections and worn narratives. We source antique and vintage textiles that capture a palpable sense of history in their weave and drape, then mix them to create new interfaces for interior accessories - thus making enduring and unique style statements.
All the creations in the Raw Luxe Collection are one-offs, we may be able to find and make something similar that happily partners another, but none will be exactly the same.
Raw Luxe Collection: Luxury Vintage Velvet & Handwoven
Antique French Linen Cushions
Sumptuous cushions created from softly faded, vintage velvet that has been utopiaised to create unique patterns on the front face of the cushions. The velvet is 'framed' with a flange of French antique handwoven linen with a great natural slub texture. The reverse is made of the same antique fabric with a deep envelope to contain the cushion pad.
A British-made cushion pad is included in the price.
A variety of sizes are available in this design.
Raw Luxe Collection: Embroidered Antique Linen Cushions
Little cushions created from finely embroidered vintage/antique cloths with linen envelope backs.
We love the sophisticated texture of white embroidery on white cloth and enjoy how the light plays on the surface creating shadows.
A British-made, duck feather cushion pad is included in the price.
A variety of sizes are available.
The Best of British Design and Craftsmanship
We are passionate about harnessing traditional British trade and craft skills to make our exclusive designs, so expect: well made creations with a strong attention to detail.
Holt Here We Come
We’re on the move to new and bigger premises in Holt, Norfolk.
After 5 years of building a unique business at Creake Abbey, it was time for us to expand and relocate. Hence, from mid November, the high street in the pretty Georgian town of Holt will have us as a new independent retailer. Based in a listed Victorian shop, with its stunning facade: ornate cast iron windows and creative brickwork, Utopia will bring a wealth of new design and creation to the town.
Holt is famed for its plethora of independent shops and cafes, historic architecture and wonderful festivals. We have always loved the town, since we first visited some 12 years ago, so now to join this vibrant community is a real treat.
The expanded site will enable us to showcase more of our designs, concepts and art.
Expect more:
- Original & limited edition fine art from Jac Scott and guest artisans
- Unique lamps and lights, from Michael Slaney, making strong style statements and dynamic focal points
- Curated collections of interesting and unusual antique furniture
- Utopiaised vintage & antique finds
- Decorative interior ideas and accessories
We look forward to welcoming you to our new gallery very soon.
Find out more about Holt here
It's All in the Details
In everything we do, we aim to be as green, as local and as sustainable as possible, so attention to details really matters to us...right down to the trademark wooden labels we use.
Flying in Black & White
If you've ever wondered how artist and designers start researching a new subject to draw then here Jac Scott reveals some initial steps in drawing with ink.
Inspired by the mesmerising flocks of Canada geese flying in the vast Norfolk skies she starts studying the birds and collecting some photos for detailed referencing. Then the first sketches emerge.
Flying in Black & White from Utopia: The Unexpected Gallery on Vimeo.
Our New 'Knot' Light for Simple, Stylish Lighting Solutions
Where will you put our new KNOT pendant light?
Utopia's KNOT light brings a contemporary 'loft living' vibe with nuances of the nautical and the industrial. We love the the mix of materials and simple lines of this design, making it an easy fit for most stylish homes - where will you put your KNOT? It has been created from a waxed, wooden ceiling rose and lamp holder with a giant knot of chunky jute rope cable.
The extra attraction of this pendant light is that they are all made to order. This means you can specify the length of the cable and how many knots you'd like plus how many drops.
Prices start at £90 for a single KNOT.
This light looks fabulous with the modern retro-style LED filament that provides a great light at low cost, without any heat build up.
Raw Collection
The Raw Collection captures an elemental grandeur for interiors wherein the essence of beautiful materials is celebrated in the raw. The main inspiration for this stylish contemporary collection is the four natural elements: fire, air, earth and water. Through harnessing the juxtaposed energies of: metal, wood and stone a natural dynamic in design evolves.