After 18 years framing Nelson’s artwork and nurturing its creative community, Gill Starling and James Taylor are stepping out of the picture.
The pair have sold The Framing Rooms and Quiet Dog Gallery in Wakatu Lane, with new owners Steve Bailey and Hayley Samuel set to take over in April, with their very own ‘quiet dog’, Gracie.
Gill says, when they announced they were planning to sell, they first asked staff whether anyone might be interested in buying the business. Steve, who has been working as a framer there for six years, did not hesitate to put his hand up.
He joined The Framing Rooms after moving from Auckland and has been a framer for about 30 years. Hayley is general manager for a national non-profit organisation and is a trustee for the Arts Development Trust.
Looking back, the business began in Richmond, where Gill and James set up their first framing workshop.
“We bought a little house opposite the mall, built a Versatile garage, and we started our business,” Gill recalls.
The timing was tough, with the 2008 recession hitting around the same period.
“It wasn't a great time to start a business, but we just kept persevering.”
A few years later they moved to Collingwood St in Nelson, but when the property owner planned a redevelopment, they shifted to Wakatu Lane. The new space allowed them to establish Quiet Dog Gallery alongside the framing workshop.
Although they always planned to sell eventually, Gill and James say the timing feels right. James plans to spend more time developing his own art practice, or “going over the dark side” as he jokes, while Gill intends to “take a breather” before deciding what comes next.
Steve and Hayley hope to continue the legacy Gill and James have built, with a few small changes.
“We just want to carry it on; we didn't want to see it shut,” Steve says.
“They have built an incredible community… it’s quite special to be stepping into that and continuing that legacy,” Hayley adds.
They plan to introduce a permanent ceramics presence while continuing involvement in events such as Clay Week and Jewellery Week and working with the Centre of Fine Woodworking.
Gill says she sees the purchase “less as a sale and more like an adoption”.
“I am so happy that the framing business and the gallery is going to be run by people who have a real passion for the arts. Running a small business in Nelson through this economic climate is incredibly challenging but I know Steve and Hayley have the skills and experience to build on our success.
“The gallery has its own presence, and I feel it is owned as much by the artists and the local community as the person who’s at the helm. More than anything, I am happy the gallery will continue at a time when so many arts businesses are struggling to survive.”
