Artcetera
Photography by Jacob Cramp
A glimpse into the heart of Artcetera: where personalised framing meets creative emporium. Words by Amy Van Wingerden.
Although it has been a recognisable landmark in Pokesdown since 1970, Artcetera – which provides the local community with an expert framing service and art supplies – is certainly not stuck in the last millennium. When I popped by, a couple were deep in discussion with one of the team about what they envisioned for an acrylic painting of a turquoise poodle. Oli Smith, who now owns the business with his partner Rebecca, tells me that the customer has always been the focus at Artcetera: “[It] is one of the most important things to us”.
When a client comes to the shop to get a piece framed, the team talk at length with them. I see our canine friend try on numerous different combinations of frames and mounts, and it is clear that the process is geared towards creating something that will be loved for a long time.
Artcetera take on all manner of commissions, ranging from keepsakes (think graduation certificates, family portraits, first ballet shoes) to commercial artwork for new build flats. The vision and budget are always considered, as well as how the piece will fit into a space.
Associates of the Fine Art Trade Guild and specialists in tricky jobs, the team provide top-quality results. From maps to scarves, oil paintings to graffiti, they can work with any medium and (pretty much) any scale. Only once has this promise proved a problem: when a customer arrived to pick up their piece to find that no matter which way round, it would not fit out the front door. The canvas had to be split in two, delivered in a rented van and reconstructed on site. That was a particularly “quirky” day in the office.
Whatever you bring to Artcetera, you are welcomed into an inviting space, and can expect a tailored process and bespoke result. If you are an artist in search of new materials, look no further than this emporium. Their paint collection boasts oils, acrylics and watercolours and the shop holds a wide selection of pastels, inks, pens, pencils, brushes, mediums, varnishes, pads, paper, and canvases. All of these they have in artist quality, but also a range for beginners, and those with a smaller budget.
It is the knowledge of a comprehensive service and continual care which causes Artcetera’s loyal customers to return time and time again. The ex-mayor of Bournemouth, Michael Filer, is one such recurrent visitor, who first stepped through the door when the shop originally opened. The machinery might have had an update, and the interior some small cosmetic tweaks, but Artcetera’s values remain the same. To “maintain and improve” is the current goal.
Whilst Oli and Rebecca may have only been at the helm since early 2020, they are no strangers to the business: Oli started as a Saturday boy here at 13 years old, under the watchful eye of previous owner Caryn Scott. After a brief period studying photography at Southampton, he gravitated back towards number 853 Christchurch Road. Artcetera seems to be a hang-out for the creatively minded. Another notable alumnus of the shop is Igor Moritz, the Polish-born artist who now exhibits his work globally. London, Paris and New York are only a few of his conquests.
And how was taking over at the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown, when the high-street, and indeed the world, came to a halt?
“Definitely strange”, says Oli, but he explains that there was a silver lining. The shop’s temporary closure provided some quiet time to rejig, bringing the workshop downstairs into a bigger space.
Any future changes to Artcetera will be done with a gentle hand, only to “push it on a little bit”. Online advertising will hopefully expand the business’s reach, and a second, local workshop may be on the horizon in the midterm. More space and more staff will allow more orders to be completed.
Naturally, though, competition with online businesses who offer “soulless”, one-size-fits-all frames is not on the agenda, and what Oli tells me next is self-evident. “We are not trying to compete in that market. We offer something different”.
Website → artceterabournemouth.co.uk
Instagram → @artceterabournemouth
