Islington artist Harlie Briggs has made her colourful, artistic dreams a reality this year by turning her love of art into a fully-fledged business.
Harlie made her move into the art world at the start of 2020. “I never do a New Year’s resolution but my friend made me do one,” she says. “I said I would love to sell a piece of work to one stranger, because I’d only sold to friends and family.” After the first successful sale, the orders started flooding in.
“For me to be thinking about that in January, to then in March be selling to hundreds of people, it was such a shock,” she says. “I think I have imposter syndrome a little bit still. When life goes a bit more back to normal, it’ll be a bit more solidified but right now it just feels really surreal. I can’t believe it.”
Art has always been a part of Harlie’s life, even though she studied biology and psychology at Sheffield University before becoming a primary school teacher. While teaching, she sold her work – mainly abstract nude and nature paintings and pottery – to family and friends. Eventually, she decided to devote more time to one of her greatest passions. “After three years teaching I decided to go part time to spend one or two days a week on my art,” she.
“I’ve only been doing this for about a year full time. When the pandemic hit I had more time to paint and work on my social media channels. From March last year it went from zero to a hundred really.”
Like many others during lockdown, Harlie has been working at home from her North London flat In the past year, she has produced a stellar variety of work, available to view on her website. One piece was described by Vogue magazine as “totally charming”.
“With the nudes, I paint the women around me,” she says. “People that trust me with photographs of themselves, so my inspiration definitely comes from people around me. What I want to express is body confidence and empowering women to feel comfortable in themselves.
“With the nature [of artwork], it’s a bit different. What I hope to express with them is to instil positive feelings and enhance mental wellbeing. Kind of bringing bits of nature inside. I hope those are very relaxing and that people feel calm with those paintings.”
Lockdown presented Harlie with the breathing room to focus on her artwork and gave her the opportunity to make one of her favourite paintings under the glare of the summer sun.
“There was a massive piece that I did that was a metre and a half by a metre and a half in May last year at the height of lockdown. A massive nature piece,” she says. “It took me like six hours in the garden and I didn’t even take a step back. The final product was really striking. I think it was its size and all the colours. I remember so clearly being out in the sun for like six hours doing the biggest piece I’ve ever done, so I’m super proud of that one and it’s hanging in somebody’s house in South London.”
Lockdown has been a terrific success for Harlie and despite the uncertainty of coronavirus restrictions she has big hopes for the future.
“I’d love to have an exhibition one day,” she says. “Whether it’s a solo exhibition or a group one. That is definitely a big thing on my to-do list. Obviously with COVID it’s a little bit more difficult, but maybe after restrictions ease in the summer I could try and sort something out, as it all has kind of been online so far.
“There’s been no interaction with potential customers and just people coming to see my work in person. So that’s definitely a big goal this year or next year, I don’t know. I think that would be such a cool experience to work towards something and invite people to come and see it all.”
Harlie Briggs can be found on her Instagram and her website.
