CREATIVE spark

with DESIGNER & ARTIST, NEIL LEMAIRE

At what stage in your life did you first move to Ealing?

I am originally from the Isle of Man, and graduated in 1998 from the Surrey institute of art and design, now part of the University Of the Arts London At age 22 I moved to Ealing and started working in Pizza Express Bond Street But after a year I started working in Bronze Age fine art foundry in Limehouse London where I developed my ceramic shell bronze casting skills Eventually I moved to Arch bronze foundry in Putney in 2004 And soon set up my own studio at the London museum of water and steam, at Kew Bridge, London and in 2014 founded MouldMaking UK I spent most of my 24 year career working in bronze foundries, producing artworks for high profile artists like Eduardo Paolozzi, Marc Quinn, Maggi Hambling and Nicola Hicks

If you were telling someone about Ealing who had never visited, how would you describe it?

Ealing is an amazing transport hub linking west London with other parts of the west of England The trains and new Elizabeth line head out towards Reading

It's a very green borough and I am proud to notice that we have recently been reducing our trimming and cutting of wild spaces There are some places in Ealing that I would call Urban Wildernesses - Lammas park community orchard and South Ealing cemetery, being two of many of my favourites

Do you have a favourite watering hole? My most regularly visited pub is the Rose and Crown behind St Mary’s Church Because of its large beer garden And after that it would be the Red Lion Visited by the crew and actors of Ealing Studios over the years

Occasionally, I like to visit Crispins, on Ealing Green, for a late night tipple It has the ambiance of a French wine bar, frequented by famous impressionist artists And there have certainly been many a ground breaking idea poised by myself and my fellow artists, over the years

Where have you had your best Ealing meal?

It’s hard to pinpoint the best meal I’ve had in Ealing Cote brasserie actually makes an amazing cooked breakfast with Boudin Noir instead of black pudding A much softer alternative Loro di Napoli in South Ealing quite possibly makes the best pizza And I love the Panang Curry in the Hare and Tortoise on Haven Green

Is there a part of Ealing that you find particularly inspirational or where you find peace?

An amazing part of Ealing is Ealing Village in North Ealing A 1930’s art deco building built for the crew of Ealing studios It has its own swimming pool, tennis courts and clubhouse Situated in the spanning communal gardens I lived in 5 different flats there over a 17 year period It was once a really friendly community, which met every Sunday morning for coffee, croissants and newspapers in the club house And their annual summer BBQs and Christmas parties were kicking!!! We moved out of there in 2015, which we were really sad about

Pitzhanger Manor and Walpole Park have always been a massive part of my Ealing life And over the last few years I have been showing my work there, annually in the Rickyard as part of BEAT

Tell us what youre up to & what's next for you.

In the first week of September I will be opening my studio as part of the Brentford Creative mile 1st and 2nd Sept 2023 I am taking over the blacksmiths forge at the steam museum Where there has been a working blacksmith for 200 years So this will be the first time I am opening the new doors to the public In the second two weekends in September I will be holding our annual show at the Rickyard in Walpole park as part of the famous Borough of Ealing Art Trail with amazing artist and designer Andrea Tierny

LOCAL HEROES EALINGLIVING |

I will be showing my newest solid, lost wax cast, bronze bowls, jewellery and other small items for the home My newest bowls have been cast with real leaves from nearby trees, impregnated permanently in the bronze And I am really excited to see the reaction to this new style that I am unveiling for this show I am hoping that people will be inspired to commission me to make bowls from trees that they find personally and conceptually significant And I will be showing a bowl made from a tree that is specifically important to me too People will be able to hear the story when they come in to see me at the show on the 9th-10th and 16th-17th September 2023 Location 24+ the Rickyard www.neillemaire.com