Sandra's artistic roots thriving at Centenary Business Centre

A business centre in Nuneaton has proved fertile ground for artist/designer Sandra Owens after she decided to set out in a totally new direction mid-career.

Sandra's business Smoart has been based at the Warwickshire County Council-run Centenary Business Centre in Nuneaton for six years.

Her Art and Design studio has become well-established while also allowing Sandra to become deeply involved in the arts scene in north Warwickshire.

She exhibits and sells her work nationally, designing and making bespoke pieces for architectural installation and interior spaces using a range of materials including ceramics, wood, plaster, plastics and concrete.

Her success is a tribute to her talent and creativity - and also illustrates the versatility of the Centenary BC as a business base, with her artistic presence settled there among all sorts of retail and light industry within the 62 units.

"It is the perfect base," Sandra said. "It is a great, flexible space and the council's team is on site and really helpful. They are really supportive of my business and always happy to oblige with displaying my art and design work around the centre.”

It was becoming a Mum and losing her own Mum in the same year - 2002 - that led Sandra to revaluate her life. She had spent 14 years in logistics and IT Project Management but was far from enthused by the prospect of another 35 years on that track, which involved a lot of travelling - not ideal with a small child despite a very supportive husband.

So Sandra gave up her career - car, pension and bonus and all - to go to Art School.

Seven years and much hard work later she had achieved a BA and then an MA in Contemporary Craft from Coventry University. And alongside her studies, some contract IT work enabled her to make that crucial move - investing in her studio at the Centenary Business Centre.

"It was a great step for me," she said. "Having a dedicated place to work allowed me to complete my MA while still working and also refining my Art and Design practice.

"Now I have two roles in my business - IT consultant and artist - but my goal for the future is very much to focus solely on Art and Design. That is where my real passion lies and it is something I can sees myself doing for the rest of my life."

Sandra's work recently featured in "Made in the Middle," an exhibition showcasing some of the best designers in the Midlands, at the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry, and which will be touring the Midlands for the next 18 months.

Deeply passionate about supporting the art scene in North Warwickshire Sandra played a key role in launching the Open Arts Trail in Nuneaton and surrounding areas last year. The county wide Warwickshire Open Studios is also a regular feature in her calendar and she will be showing her work at the spring exhibition at Rugby Station and again have her studio open to the public on selected dates during June and July (www.warwickshireopenstudios.org/).