8 HOLLAND STREET
A love of fine art led Rowena Morgan-cox and Tobias Vernon to open a unique gallery space
Can you tell us a little bit about your background? Rowena: I studied history of art at Bristol, then did an MA at the Courtauld Institute based around 19th-century European art. After that I worked at galleries specialising in British art, including Agnews and The Fine Art Society.
Tobias: I studied history of art at Cambridge. When I left I worked for an interior designer in London and realised I loved having a brief and transforming spaces, so I started my own interior consultancy.
How did the concept for 8 Holland Street come about? Tobias: We met through a friend, and although we had very different backgrounds we both have an appreciation of fine art and found pieces. I was sourcing art for clients, and was in and out of Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and Rowena was in a fine art gallery. We wanted to open a space that didn’t just sell a particular period of antique furniture or art, but where all kinds of pieces could sit together without any hierarchy.
What do you show and who is your customer?
Tobias: Everything is for sale; the books, textiles, cushions, and there’s not an emphasis on one thing over another. We have collectable work by Alan Davie and Elisabeth Frink next to £12 recycled Mexican glassware, and Murano glass by Campbell-rey next to a battered Arts and Crafts chair. Rowena: We’re inspired by Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, Peggy Guggenheim’s house in Venice, and Charles and Ray Eames’ house in LA. People like the relaxed atmosphere here, partly because of Tobias’s interior design background I’m sure. It shows people how to mix pieces in their own homes.
Where do you find your eclectic stock?
Tobias: We source pieces from all over Europe. There’s a lot of 20th-century, mainly Italian and French furniture, some antique Swedish textiles, and a lot of studio ceramics from markets in the South of France and all around the UK.
Rowena: We also have work from contemporary artists such as Emily Buck, who makes texturised clay sculptures, and Sam Padfield, who uses 24 carat gold with smoked glass, concrete and oil paint to make beautiful abstract work.
Rowena: Now the gallery is attracting people locally who have pieces to sell. Recently, I was looking at an old art catalogue as I wanted to find carved work, and a sculptor called Marcus Harris came in. It turned out that he’s a stone carver, so that felt serendipitous. It’s exciting when things fall into place.
What’s next for 8 Holland Street?
Tobias: We have a barn in Somerset, which is a workshop, storage and studio space where we restore pieces, do photography and mock up ideas for the London gallery. Currently we’re putting a display together down there, too, so customers can visit. London can sometimes feel rushed, so this gives us a different perspective, and an opportunity to see how the same pieces look in a different environment.
8 Holland Street, London W8 4LT, 020 7430 0150, 8hollandstreet.com.