Original and unique, art from Northern Makes Art Galley Bollington

Jason Oakes founded his Bollington gallery, Northern Makes in 2017 and his passion for putting art front and centre is indisputable

Northern Makes, in Bollington, has gone from strength to strength since founding, developing a national reputation for providing access to emerging and established artists you won’t find on the high street. Those who buy original art, from an art gallery with a passionate and knowledgeable curator, have taken a reasonably courageous and sadly unusual step, it seems, judging by the number of homes I visit where art is most definitely not high on the list of must-haves for the homeowner, so who are Jason’s audience, and why?

“Making that first purchase is perhaps quite brave,” he agrees. “Choosing something original and unique for your home is to make a clear statement about your style and your taste, in a way a sofa or an armchair doesn’t, even if they’re designer pieces. But once you take that first step, you realise just how much pleasure you can get from art that speaks to you personally, that you will never, ever get from ‘wall decorations’ you might choose in a high street store.

“I believe that the common denominator among those who buy original art isn’t money, or taste, but simply a love of handmade objects, as opposed to mass produced pieces designed to appeal to the maximum number of people. And when people realise that you don’t need to spend a lot of money – certainly less than the cost of a new sofa – to put something stunning in their home, something that they could just stand and look at and feel pleasure every time, then that barrier to the first purchase is broken and people never look back.

“Art can be a real differentiator in homes. New builds with ‘black canvas’ walls, or period homes with lots of space to fill, you can add your own personality through your art choices. I love really big scale art, for example, that really makes a statement. Wilmslow artist Jo Deas creates stop-you-in-your-tracks, stunning pieces at a vast scale; I recently placed two of her works in a Georgian home in Edinburgh and they’re breathtaking.”

This is, of course, the great joy of art. There’s something for everyone, whatever your taste or budget, and the thrill of finding something you really, really love, and then taking it home, never gets old. Jason works hard to bring new artists to the gallery in a continual flow, so there is always something new to discover, alongside artists already comfortably along the road to success. This year, for the first time ever, Jason has brought photography to his gallery, providing access to an artform which is often overlooked.

“I met Soo Burnell at the Edinburgh Art Fair and really loved her work and could see it working very well in the gallery alongside the existing artists. I’ve not carried photography before, so it was a bit nerve-racking, as photography seems not to be seen in the same lights as paintings, but as soon as I brought it in it started to sell, so my instinct was right. Her photos are printed on linen, which gives them quite a painterly feel, and beautifully framed. All of Soo’s work is so considered and carefully put together and has real narrative and impact.”

A second artist new to Northern Makes this year, Alleyne Parry, was introduced by his wife, who was visiting the gallery and showed Jason her husband’s work.

“I knew Alleyne Parry as a graphic designer, who some years ago was working with Harry Brioche, now quite a well-known landscape artist. As soon as his wife showed me his work, I asked immediately if he could come in and see me, as they just stood out; they’re absolutely excellent. I had seven of his pieces in the gallery and five sold within two weeks.”

Jason was also thrilled to discover Nigel Smith, whose work defies easy description, but is quite bewitching, hovering between landscape, fantasy and abstract.

‘I came across him on Instagram,” Jason says. “I knew immediately his work would fit well in the gallery. Since I found him he has been picked up by four more galleries, which is great for him and reassuring for his buyers, as he’s clearly an artist just on the cusp of real success.”

Finding artists on the cusp seems to be Jason’s speciality, but how does he choose which artists to put in front of his audience?

“I have been doing this 10 years now,” he says, “first in Manchester and now here, and have developed a kind of sense for what people will enjoy. I am so proud to have brought a number of new artists to the gallery, who then go on to really successful careers, and I think perhaps this is my forte.

“I do a lot of work with collectors who buy for investment purposes,” he adds, “but where I really find the joy is bringing new artists to people’s attention. A side-effect of this is that pricing is very keen, so I am not asking people to spend a lot of money on a potential investment, but a sensible amount on something they just love.

“Research has shown that there is a huge benefit to simply gazing at something you find beautiful, boosting the mood and enabling mindfulness. I believe that the moment you hang art on the walls of your home, you give it soul, and the joy taken from looking at something you discovered, that nobody else has, is immeasurable.”

northernmakes.com, Bollington