Artist and retail maven John Redmond on career shifts and creativity
What inspired you to start your business? Tell us more about yourself.
The creative field has been my professional home from the beginning, starting after college as a visual display artist many years ago and culminating in the role of Creative Director for the Brown Thomas Group. Throughout that period of time, I had always painted. As that business changed my creative role became incredibly corporate and it was at that time that I decided to leave and set up my own art practice.
What have you learned since becoming a self-employed artist?
I spent pretty much all of my career working with teams, be they my team or other divisions teams and I did really enjoy that. Having said that, I am really enjoying the complete autonomy which comes with running my own art practice. I am lucky that I have always been a very self-motivated person as that is very important in the life of an artist.
What has been the most challenging time for you so far?
Honestly speaking, it’s keeping up the pace with the demand for the work – which is a good complaint. I’m driven by the need to keep creating and I feel energised when I am working on something new – sometimes I need to reign it in a little.
What inspires your artwork, and what sets it apart from what other artists are doing? Bauhaus movement artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee have been an inspiration. I also love the work of Joan Miró. I seem to be drawn to work from that period of time.
How have collectors responded to what you do?
They have responded very positively to the work, not just here in Ireland, but abroad also, which, as an artist, gives one great validation.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Travel has always been a great source of inspiration and I continue to travel a lot. I always find something inspirational on every trip – it could be the architecture, a gallery I visit, a restaurant or fashion brand. There is always something to soak up and to feed those creative juices.
Describe your workspace. I am very fortunate to have had the space to build a studio at my home. It’s more than just a workspace – to me, it’s my sanctuary. It’s where I get to explore my ideas and to focus on bringing them to life. It is full of canvases and paint colours. I do like order, so it is pretty organised – at least I know where everything is!
Describe a typical working day.
My day starts with breakfast with my wife Karen. We usually cover quite a bit of ground in the morning on both the art practice and on what’s coming up for Ecru Studios – our fashion and lifestyle business. My commute is amazing – just 30 steps to my studio – where I pretty much work all day with music playing in the background. If Karen is at home we’ll grab a bite of lunch together later on and take our gorgeous little dog Stella out for a walk. Then it’s back to the studio for me. My working day is quite routine.
How important is collaboration to what you do?
Art can be quite a solitary process; the most important collaboration has been with my gallery Gormleys. They understand my work and how I work. It is a real partnership which I greatly value.
As well as your art practice you also run Ecru Studios with your wife Karen. Tell us more about this business and about some of your favourite home and lifestyle pieces.
We launched Ecru Studios in September 2022. It is a one stop shop for fashion and lifestyle pieces curated from all over the world with makers and artisans that we have found on our travels. We love our recycled glass collection with everything made from upcycled wine and water bottles from Bordeaux. I also love our delicate origami-like porcelain vases – they are just beautiful with or without flowers. We also stock terrific handmade cushions.
What has been your proudest moment/ favourite project so far?
There have been many over the past while but my first solo exhibition with Gormleys Gallery in October 2023 was a real ‘pinch me’ moment.
What’s next for you and the various strands of your work?
With the art, I am part of a beautiful intimate group show at Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare from the 14th of September to the 12th of October. Together with other Irish artists I will be part of a Q&A panel at a special dinner held on Tuesday the 16th of September.
I am working on a body of work for another solo exhibition in Belfast later in the year and on an exciting new project for 2026. When it comes to Ecru Studios, we are currently finalising our Christmas edit and going on buying trips for our SS26 collections.
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