News

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.

 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.

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

https://loveholt.com/our-town

https://www.explorenorfolkuk.co.uk/holt-norfolk.html

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.

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.

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.

Turning green...naturally.

We have always loved green at Utopia and this month we seem to be bathed in it! Our passion for verdigris also shows no abating with the creation of both new lights and lamps. So, if you love it too, then do keep a watch out on the website and in the gallery for more to come.

What is verdigris? Here’s some basic chemistry. Natural verdigris is the term used for a bluish green patina that appears as a crustation on copper, brass and bronze that has been weathered over time from the exposure to air or seawater (atmospheric oxidisation). A hastened finish can be achieved through the application of acetic acid to the metal, although this never looks the same as it lacks the natural depth and range of greens and blues that natural oxidisation achieves.

Drawing to commission has a different dynamic, one where the poetry of creativity has a tension. The management of that is where Utopia excels, as exemplified in the last twelve months when Jac has been commissioned by both corporate companies and private clients to draw a range of subject matter.

We thought you might be interested in both the process and the results.

What happens when I commission a drawing at Utopia?

• CONSULTATION

The first step is to have an in-depth consultation with Jac on what your ideas are and how Utopia might fulfil them. We also discuss options for developing the idea and find out your budget and deadline – key parts of working productively together.

• SITE VISIT                  

Secondly, a site visit is booked. From this, basic research material is gleaned and then a quote is provided. Utopia does not charge for these initial meetings.

• CONTRACT                  

A simple contract is drawn stating: the brief, financial terms and schedule. On signed agreement and exchange of the contract, plus receipt of the non-returnable deposit, the work begins.

• RESEARCH                  

Jac will need to make some site visits to collect research material (sketches, photographs etc) but exactly how many are arranged, depends on the brief. The visits are always arranged with the client in advance and at times of mutual convenience. Many of the site visits are outside and therefore dependant on suitable weather conditions.

• SKETCH

It is usual for a preliminary sketch illustrating the composition to be forwarded to the client prior to a full drawing being created. This ensures that both parties are clear about the brief and that both are heading in the same direction. Any amendments are then made.

• DRAWING                  

At this stage the exciting part commences as the full drawing is developed. On completion a low-resolution version is emailed to client for feedback.

• CHANGES                  

Any little changes to the drawing are executed, the final version is agreed, then this stage is signed-off by the client.

• OTHER MATERIALS

If developments like framing and printing have been asked for, then it is at this stage in the process that they are managed.

• COMPLETION

On receipt of the drawing (and other materials) the client pays the balance and does a final sign-off to show the commission has finished.

This process enables both parties to clearly understand what is happening and when, so there is little chance for misunderstandings. Jac has spent twenty-five years as a professional artist working to commission, so she understands the process well and finds it rewarding developing new works from clients ideas.

Please get in touch if you have a concept you’d like to explore further.

Here are some commissions from clients in the last twelve months.

Tips on enjoying making decorations with natural materials.

Deciding on a Christmas theme for the gallery is always a delicious dilemma. This year a local ramble with Moss across the fields provided the answer with bunches of giant dead cow parsley - perfect for a loose ethereal arrangement when sprayed with gold.

Have a go yourself if you like natural materials at Christmas

1. Pick the cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) on a dry day and strip off any leaves so that the stems are clean. Cow parsley is quite brittle so be careful handling it. Keep the plants dry.
2. Trim the stalks as required.
3. Choose a still, dry day for spraying the plant with metallic spray paint - its amazing how far the spray travels so its advisable to remove any objects you don't want covered, use protective sheeting on the ground and wear old clothes and shoes. Or for smaller pieces a cardboard box makes a great temporary spray booth. We recommend wearing a mask over your nose and mouth to prevent inhalation of any noxious fumes. We use an environmentally friendly spray, but it still smells awful.

TIP - It is better to spray several thin layers of paint, letting them become touch dry between each coat, as the paint will then be less likely to flake off.

4. Let the plant dry thoroughly before arranging. 

We'd love to see a photo of your results so please post them on our FACEBOOK page.

If you want to see our efforts then call by our gallery.

ABOVE: Arnolfini Marriage, 1434, Jan van Eyck

A chandelier, other wise referred to as a girandole or candelabra lamp, is a suspended ornamental light with multiple branches. The wealthy have been enjoying chandeliers since medieval times when rustic wooden structures with candles on spikes were de rigueur. Although rudimentary, these statement lights made imposing interior features in fourteenth century rooms. A mechanism for the frequent replacing of the candles was necessary, so a hoist incorporating ropes or chains was installed on a nearby wall.

BELOW: We spotted this magnificent crystal chandelier at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk

Through the centuries the chandelier has gradually metamorphosized into grander and more embellished lights with the use of more exotic and expensive materials being incorporated including precious metals and jewels. Synonymous with the rich and powerful these ornate lights found a wider appeal with the development of lead crystal in 1674. Its arrival transformed chandeliers as the material supported cheaper manufacture, whilst retaining a beguiling refraction of the light.

Today, the grand crystal chandelier is still in vogue but it now has numerous cousins, many who hark back to the light’s origins. Here are Utopia we enjoy playing with old ideas and manipulating antiques into something different, something unexpected, so of course over the years we have reinterpreted chandeliers in many ways. Our latest design harnesses pairs of antique hames into various configurations.

We create these chandeliers from pairs of horse hames - in single or double pairs in a range of styles (brass - Raw 55 pictured, wood & iron and painted steel) depending on the original antiques. Prices from £500.

Raw 55  Antique Brass Horse Hames Giant Chandelier

A unique and stunning giant chandelier/pendant light with contemporary character transformed by Utopia from two pairs of antique/vintage solid brass hames. The antiques are in great condition - they form the branching structures of the chandelier.  Please note that the pairs are not identical but very similar.

Hames form the integral part of a heavy horse collar, usually made of metal and/or wood, they are often padded and with a leather casing. The collar is used to distribute weight around the horse's neck and shoulders when pulling a plough.

This striking light has been created using brass fittings including a large ceiling rose with 8 cable grips and a central hook for the chains, edison/screw lamp (bulb) holders, 4 brass ceiling hooks for the outer chains, welded brass link chain and old gold retro-style twisted cable. There is great flexibility with the height of this light as the chains and cable can be easily adjusted.

This light looks great with the modern retro-style LED filament that provides a great light at low cost, without any heat build up. 

Dimensions: Variable height. Diameter 160cm

Discover the unexpected and inspiring handmade antique poetry book behind Utopia: The Unexpected Gallery's 'Literati Collection' limited edition (100) lampshades, 'Open Book' design. War poet Rupert Brooke's memoir is revealed in all its deckle edged splendour.

Poetry in Motion from Utopia: The Unexpected Gallery on Vimeo.

Looking after yourself is always on the agenda, but it doesn’t always get attention – we know first hand how hard it can be. So, we have devised a suggestion of a day trip to somewhere that will rejuvenate you. This idea does come with a serious health warning that you may leave feeling inspired, exercised, relaxed and well fed!

2. Top up your art-fix by visiting Norfolk By Design’s curated selling exhibition that runs all summer in the atmospheric stables. Here you'll find affordable art from the cream of the county's artists and designers. Plus you'll see our responses to the wonderful landscaped grounds in the form of two new drawings - now available as limited edition fine art prints framed and unframed. ‘Houghton Hall: West Perspective’ and ‘Houghton Hall: East Perspective’ reveal vistas where dynamic avenues of planted beech and lime punctuate the country estate. The trees act as a dramatic counterpoint to this historic hall - creating sight lines with a powerful perspective.

3. Unwind and lose yourself in the impressive sculpture garden with pieces: 'Skyspace’ by the American artist James Turrell, Anya Gallacio, Zhan Wang, Stephen Cox, Jeppe Hein, Rachel Whiteread and Phillip King.

4. Sharpen your eyesight with a stroll around the parkland spotting herds of deer - the unusual white deer are a particular treat.

5. Relax in the 5 acres of the picturesque walled garden - one of the Hall's favourite places.

6. Get inspired by one of England's finest Palladian houses - built in the 1720s for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole.

Then take some sustenance at the Stables cafe.

If you’re not replete then pop down the road to see us at Creake Abbey for more art, food and history.