100+ Frames for The Canbury Arms, Kingston upon Thames

We recently spoke to Julia Brown at The Canbury Arms, Kingston upon Thames – as we had the pleasure of crafting more than 100 frames for her growing collection of artwork, prints and curiosities which are now on display at her smart community pub in Kingston, part of the excellent Pearmain Pubs Group.

On our first visit since the launch of the new Canbury Arms, we were impressed by the diverse mix of artworks covering the walls, such as the figurative painter Victoria Kiff, whose lucid, imaginary compositions consist of “marks made in the remains of a place-re-invented” - and also delighted to have been able to suggest artworks by our established local artists, printmaker Sue Roe who produces beautiful collagraphs, linocuts and monoprints, which range from figurative to abstract, and illustrator Tabitha MacBeth who painted the amazing indoor mural.

As any gallerist, curator or interior designer knows, the way art is displayed is crucial and transformative, not just to the space it is in, but to the feeling given off in the pictures themselves. Hanging pictures, much like creating them, is a balancing act of spacing, colour and proportion. And the curation at The Canbury Arms is remarkable adding to the overall relaxed feel.

Wanting to know more from Julia, we asked her a couple of questions.

Julia, we love your playful approach to hanging. How did you do the curation?

“Thank you! I start with the colours actually, making a gallery on the computer using various art websites and try and have a slight suggestion of a theme in my mind that I think suits the building. I take  a random approach as I think that’s what works best in a pub! I choose mounts and frames individually to make sure I am happy with them all. Then I decide  where they will all go on the mad day we spend putting everything up a few days before we open.”

Do you have an artistic background? Do you collect art? And if you could own any piece of art, what would that be?

“ I studied Art to A level only but have always loved it! I wouldn’t say I collect art as such but it is an everyday thing for me and very much part of my life. My favourite artist is Egon Schiele so I would love to own anything by him.”

What's the hot item selling at your pub these days?

“The best selling food item atm is chicken schnitzel and we did sell a lot of Kombucha during dry January!”

What are you looking forward to this year?

“This summer one of my sons is getting married so I am very much looking forward to that!

Thanks for everything you do for me too, it is amazing to have such good skills on my doorstep!” 

LG Recommends, FramingCristina Schek