A Derry woman who opened one of the city's first-ever eco-friendly art shops has celebrated her first year in business.
Anna Barclay, who operates Eco Shop on Butcher Street, came up with the idea for the shop after exploring planet-friendly alternatives to the materials she used in her own paintings.
And so, when a vacant premises came up in Derry city centre last year, just inside the City Walls, she decided to take the plunge.
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Praising the support she has received from the local public, and through the Start-Up Accelerator Programme, Anna said she hoped to help other "explore their own creativity, in a way that’s harmonious to the planet".
“I love Derry as a city," she said. "There are a lot of creative people here, and so many different festivals on through the year, I knew it would be a great location.
“[However], navigating a new business during the last year has been unpredictable. Having the security of one-to-one mentoring from Enterprise North West, and a team of professionals who you can ask for advice, was brilliant.
"And you’re meeting other people who’ve taken their own leap, which is really encouraging. They might have a totally different business to you, but you’re going through lots of the same worries and concerns.
“Through the programme and funding, I’ve also been able to employ a member of staff. Having Katie, who’s so passionate about what we do, help run it day-to-day has been great.”
Anna, who has travelled extensively in South America volunteering in environmental, marine and animal conservation projects, said she became frustrated that the most commonly used acrylic paints contain microplastics, which often ended up working their way into the sea and our bloodstreams.
“I’d be painting nature and the sea, but using paints which are actually damaging to the ocean,” says Anna.
“I started looking into how artists painted before the industrial revolution, and discovered suppliers producing natural earth paints, which are safer for the user and the environment.”
“The climate crisis is happening all the time and it’s not going to get any better. It’s not to scare people, it’s to encourage them and say, this is worth protecting. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
“My priority was to make Eco Art a community space – to encourage people to explore their own creativity, in a way that’s harmonious to the planet.
“We live in a fast-paced society and I also think Covid was a wake-up call to slow down, whether that be taking time out in nature or exploring your artistic side.
"Even if people think they aren’t ‘good’ at art. Art isn’t there to be sat and gazed at, it’s about the journey and the process rather than the finished product.”
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