Partner Article

Redundancy gives green light for new creative business

A young Sunderland artist is following advice she received from a Royal portrait painter and setting up her own business.

Pauline Alldis appeared on the TV program ‘A Brush with Fame’ in 2005. She reached the regional final, where she painted celebrities and received advice from the Royal Portrait Painter, Christian Furr, who told her “not to stop”.

After being made redundant from her previous position as a graphic designer in February this year, Pauline decided to use the opportunity to pursue her dream of running her own creative company.

Pauline graduated from the North East Business and Innovation Centre’s New Entrepreneur Scholarship this week, and is now set to launch her own art and illustration business.

Pauline said: “I can honestly say that being made redundant was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Two or three days later I arranged my first meeting with a business advisor at the BIC, and I’ve never looked back since.”

Pauline’s business will specialize in personal portraits, pet portraits, celebrity paintings, murals and illustration. She is currently producing work in the hope of exhibiting in London and has sold a number of pieces in the USA.

A little closer to home, some examples of her work will be on display in the atrium of the BIC until 30 November. For more information, visit Pauline’s website, www.alldisartroom.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .