Twenty or so years ago, artist Nigel Wallace had been working as an illustrator but was looking for a new outlet for his artistic creativity. He admired the clean-lined style of the vintage travel posters made popular by the railways in days gone by, and came up with the idea of drawing local views in this style.
Travel posters originally appeared during the late 19th century, which was a time of growing appreciation for visiting beautiful places which were now accessible to the wider public by the railway system. Towns wanted to display their best features to entice the up and coming tourist industry. Artists were commissioned to create simple, eye-catching images and improvements in printing made posters easier to produce.
Through into the 20th century, the images evolved from art nouveau into a more art deco style, evoking the ease and social graces of the 1920s and 30s.
Nigel was inspired by the original travel posters to create his own style with clean lines, simple but evocative scenes, and bright colours.
He started his business, White One Sugar, with just three local images – two of Faversham and one of Whitstable in Kent. Over time, he built a sizeable portfolio, eventually inviting other artists to contribute. They use nostalgic or retro cues, but their images are fresh. Their work now includes well over a thousand pictures, including 150 or so of Norfolk, one of Nigel’s favourite destinations.
The name White One Sugar came from how his daughter used to take her tea. She thought it would be a quirky but memorable name for the series of pictures.
‘It makes me smile whenever I think of how this simple, domestic moment became the identity for a creative business,’ says Nigel.
Nigel’s images of north Norfolk’s coastline – the beaches, the huts and the quiet harbours – are wonderfully evocative and nostalgic.
His connection to this part of the world began a few years ago when he fell in love with the area during a visit to friends. His fondness has drawn him back several times a year ever since then, looking forward to each visit and finding inspiration for more beautiful images.
White One Sugar offers images of Holkham Beach, Sheringham, Wells-next-the-Sea, Hunstanton, Thornham, and more.
‘For me, art is about place, among other things,’ says Nigel. ‘It’s easy to pass by a landscape until someone frames it, paints it, or prints it in a way that makes you really see it. White One Sugar does that: they take something local – something many of us pass every summer or drive past in a car – and say, “This matters. This is beautiful.”’
Also, there’s something very personal in their business story. Nigel and White One Sugar started small, with a few images, selling at fairs and the business grew organically.
Nigel very much likes talking to people and a lot of his ideas come from those conversations. He enjoys taking on commissions from individuals or businesses, so everyone is welcome to get in touch.
To view all their work go to whiteonesugar.etsy.com or go direct by emailing [email protected]
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