Lymington Creatives, a collection of photographic portraits of creative people living and working in Lymington, arose from photographer, Paul Close’s desire to draw attention to talented individuals who created new work or innovative businesses in spite of, or as a result of, the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
Preliminary phone calls to a few of Lymington’s established creatives, including Stewart Mechem, co-owner of Coastal Gallery, resulted in thirty four participants. These include artists, ceramicists, sculptors and yacht designers, alongside a few unexpected creatives from a wine grower and chocolatier to a musician and plantsman.
The resulting photographic portraits have been published, by Paul Close, in a beautiful book entitled Lymington Creatives. The book forms a significant ‘time capsule’ of images capturing the essence and ingenuity of creative people living in Lymington at a unique time in our shared history. Coastal Gallery is privileged to represent several of the creatives featured in the book, and to have been involved in the project. Copies of Lymington Creatives are available to buy at the gallery.
Julie Collins, Painter – © Paul Close
Michael Turner, Stainless Steel Sculptor – © Paul Close
Jackie Giron, Ceramicist – © Paul Close
Sophie McDowall, Retro-pop Lighting Designer – © Paul Close
Stewart Mechem, Gallerist and Art Dealer – © Paul Close
Stephen Powell, Artist – © Paul Close
Andy Baerselman, Carpenter turned Sculptor – © Paul Close
Chris Whittaker, Painter – © Paul Close
