'Tips From The Top' - Interview with Splash Prints UK

 On this weeks 'Tips from The Top', we speak to artist Gemma England from Splash Prints UK who is creating ground breaking artwork featuring brass instruments. In this interview we explore how Germma's musical experiences have inspired her to explore bring music and art together into one form.

As well as an artist you are a musician could you tell me a little about your experiences in music?

I started playing mellophone at around age 11, playing for a marching called The Blue Ambassadors! It was the best years of my life, made amazing memories travelling around the country and winning many BYBA Competitions. I stopped when I become a teenager, I think many of us in the band become little "too cool for school". Since then I played in a few bands here and there, the most recent was John Seeleys Jazz Group where I learnt how to play jazz, and I felt like part of a family. I am dyslexic, and even though I have played a trumpet since a young age, sadly I still can not read music (I write my valves on the sheet music, and play by ear). Nowadays, I play Trumpet and Flugel Horn at home with my husband who plays ukulele!

Fun fact - One of my favourite trumpet playing memories to date, was playing on the corner of Jackson Square, New Orleans and making $5 while travelling with my family in 2019! 

Could you tell me how you started Splash Prints UK? 

My usual job is a Newborn Baby Photographer, but because of the pandemic I couldn't do my usual job - so I spent alot of time playing around in Photoshop. It was then that I came up with the idea of turning objects into a watercolour effect from photos that I have taken. But I didn't stop there, I wanted my work to stand out! Being creative, I tried painting on my photos with a shimmery paint dots, which gave the photos a beautiful effect that caught the light. Later in my design process, I began to add glitter dots, and diamantes creating bold statement pieces.

You use a unique style of art could you tell me how you came up with this idea?

I wanted to create something unique, and different, and wanted to stand out. The instrument splash art was a request from a fellow brass player, and the effect was magical! Once printed, the hand painted shimmer and glitter dots looked like the shininess of the instrument; like a glittery colourful musical explosion! I knew at that moment that I was onto something amazing, and since then I have created art for many musicians.

We recently worked on a project could you tell me a little about this project and how you bought my idea to life?

I really enjoyed working with you on your project, and presenting your new 'Concerto For Euphonium' that you have been working on with Philip Harper. Merging music together, with illustrations that have been drawn for the music worked incredibly, and I feel that it was a wonderful way to present your music that means so much to you. I actually found you playing this piece of music on youtube which helped me with the vision for the project.

We also worked together to create art work of yours' and Philip Harpers instruments, I particularly loved your Euphonium due to the two colours, as I was able to hand paint gold and silver shimmer dots which looked stunning.

Combining art and music together creates an exciting prospect what are your thoughts on this?

For me both music and art are big parts of my life, and merging them together creates a bold statement/story. Not everyone understands the language of music, and some listeners would not know that music tells a story. For example, even something as simple as telling the listener about someone's feelings, can be communicated through the key it's played in. So, with combining art and music, music can be communicated through art too - I feel very excited!

What are your plans for the future?

My husband and I have just bought a 42" Large format printer, and in the process of expanding our prints to larger matte prints up to 40" and premium high quality canvas prints. We have re-named the business Splash Prints UK. We are hoping to find alot more musicians that are interested in creating a statement piece for their homes/ music rooms; as a graphic designer, photographer and a musician myself I feel that I can connect to my clients to create something magical and personal to them.

Don't forget to visit Gemma's artwork at Splash Prints UK which you can visit on the following link - https://www.splashprints.co.uk.