Building a rainbow of colour, learning and fun for children
‘Yummy Mummy’ blends happy and homely art with inspired teaching ideas
Stonham Barns Park is seeing a surge in new business start-ups move into its retail village – many of which have been created and launched during the 16-months of the pandemic. The latest retailer to be welcomed to the holiday and leisure venue has been motivated by a love of art and design.
Angelic Print Boutique has just opened at the shopping venue. It is the inspiration of ‘Yummy Mummy’ Catherine Gunfield who formed the business in 2020 after she picked up a paintbrush after a 20 year-break from art. Having worked in sales, recruitment and run her own wedding stationery business, Catherine then returned to her A Level art roots to paint a giraffe for her young son Bertie’s bedroom. She was redecorating the room and, when she shared the image with her friends and other young mothers, they encouraged her to do more and to make them available for sale.
‘I literally had not planned to start a business but just simply wanted to create a beautiful piece for Bertie’s bedroom that he would be happy with – and it has all blossomed from there. Many more acrylic animal paintings followed, and I now offer a service offering customers the chance to totally custom their painting with flowers, ribbons, pom poms and glitter. It’s all about whatever makes you feel joyful.’
The animal prints have been named by customer’s children including Marty the Lion Cub, Bob the Elephant, Norman the Zebra, Gloria the Flamingo, Kevin the Meerkat and Rosie the Penguin. All the acrylic prints are signed and come with a stamped certificate of authentication.
‘After a career of working in business, I decided I wanted to do something more imaginative with my time while I looked after my son. The wall art took off as friends and family all became interested in my work!’
‘Bertie was attending pre-school and I also had the idea of creating some learning resources to help prepare him for full time education. These were popular with Bertie – my product reviewer – and so I continued to work on a portfolio of learning resources for 3-5-year-old children including numbers and alphabet posters, prints, play-doh mats and colouring sheets.’
The delightful range of pastel and rainbow coloured art products from the business, also available online, now includes acrylic prints, digital download prints, learning resources, paintings and personalised wall art. Additional lines for the outlet will include Pom-Poms, Rainbow gifts and Peg Dolls.
‘My range includes products that are happy, homely and often educational. I am not a trained teacher but an artist with a love for teaching my own little boy and I have helped to prepare him for school by surrounding him with beautiful objects and teaching materials that give him a desire to learn.’
Catherine developed a passion for art at school and has recently extended her skills as an artist by learning how to use digital programmes online that help her to produce her contemporary artworks. Her portfolio has recently extended to wedding and events stationery which is increasingly in demand as people are spending more time ‘personalising’ venues for special occasions.
‘I did want to change my lifestyle after becoming a mother and I feel very happy that I have a new way of expressing myself through my new art business.’
‘This is all an adventure full of rainbows and unicorns – and I love it!’
Catherine is 44 and lives at Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds.
For more information visit www.angelicprintboutique.co.uk
