Artful lodgers at the ArtShed

Above: Marita Freeman

Above: An example of some of the work on show in the gallery

Above: The Artshed gallery

Above: Emily Stracey specialises in ceramics

Above: ArtShed owner Sarah Miller

When fine art graduate Sarah Miller decided to dedicate her career to becoming an artist she quickly realised that it was going to take more than the sales from her own work to make a living. So, with the help of her father, Brian Miller, she decided to move back to her home town of New Milton to start up the now famous Artshed gallery.

What to expect
Artshed combines the lure of a quintessential gift shop with the wistful wandering that you succumb to when entering a gallery and uses it to show off the works of Hampshire artists and designers.

For those longing to inject a bit of contemporary art in to their home, Artshed provides an affordable way to experience some local culture at prices well below what you would find in a larger gallery.

Its displays are inviting and its collection ranges from beautiful pieces of jewellery to stunning hand made cards and decorations. Not to mention the dramatic wall displays filled with inspiring canvases from the local artists that have hired the space. The slots are monthly, so you can expect a different experience each time, but be quick, if you see something you like it may not be around for long.

When the gallery first opened nine years ago, Sarah looked to her contacts for help and advice on finding artists that would like the opportunity to show their work. Over the years she has gone from seeing 30 to now over 100 different artists and designers on her walls.
Artshed’s popularity derives from its snug feeling and cosy corners; the artists feel that the visitors can picture the art as if it were in their own homes, making it more attractive to potential buyers.

The artists
Marita Freeman is a local painter from the Hampshire borders. She uses Artshed to display and sell her paintings of life on the south coast. Being an adult course teacher at the neighbouring New Milton Forest Arts Centre, Artshed provides Marita with the ideal space to show off her work to her students and help to fill them with inspiration.
“Artshed thrives in New Milton; it takes advantage of its tourists and draws in visitors from all over the country. Its intimate space means that customers are not overwhelmed by a vastness, instead they feel comfortable and well at home.”
Theresa Galanides uses Artshed to display her exquisite jewellery collection. After leaving college she found that finding materials for her pieces was becoming increasingly difficult with her small budget so she began to use recycled copper, bottle tops and aluminium cans.
Inspired by stained glass imagery, Theresa’s range incorporates a daisy design with the rough edges of her recycled metal. “I delight in the rough texture created by a hammer blow or the colouration created during the heating of metal, these qualities are the signature of my work and Artshed is a great space in which to portray and sell my designs.”
Theresa’s pieces are not the only collections to reside at Artshed, Sarah Miller has many other jewellers that use her space and you will always find the most up-to-the-minute and creative designs at good, affordable prices.

Inspired ceramics
Artshed also opens its doors to ceramics designers and anything from oil burners to figurines can be found hidden away in the corners of the gallery.
Emily Stracey is a resident ceramicist at Artshed and strongly influenced by her vivid imagination, she creates humorous stories through her mixed animal sculptures. She takes inspiration from our own human behaviours used in everyday situations and transforms them to create each individual character.
“I have a couple of cats at home which I use to help me with the ideas for my creations, many of my customers like my cat designs as they can relate them to their own animals. People can be close to their pets and their characteristic nature means that they are a great source of entertainment and humour, which is what I try to capture in my work.”
Artshed was created with the intention to promote the contemporary art practice of new, emerging artists alongside those more established. It aims to offer a great selection of original art and craft work at affordable prices. Sarah Miller and her father have spent a lot of time building Artshed to be the beautiful gallery that it is today, and if you are ever in the area it is well worth a visit.

Artshed Gallery, 96 Old Milton Road,
New Milton, Hampshire BH25 6EB
Tel: 01425 620011