Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Balloon bonanza for artist Jacqui
A talented Coatbridge balloon artist achieved a sky high ambition as she joined more than 50 other skilled shape-shifters in the profession at the prestigious big balloon build event in Birmingham in aid of the Free@last charity.
Jacqui Young, from Wishaw’s Classic Touch Balloons, showed impressive inner physical strength and a flair for design at the colourful gathering held at Birmingham’s Nechells wellbeing centre.
A total of 110,000 balloons were used to create the spectacular set for a theatre production of A Christmas Balloon Wonderland: the Nutcracker and raise funds for disadvantaged children and young people.
Jacqui, 56, told the Advertiser: “Stuart Davies, the organiser, put the word out on social media looking for balloon artists who would like to apply to be part of the team in early summer.
“As all major events had been cancelled due to Covid-19, I jumped at the chance to take part in the big balloon build. It was fantastic. It was hard work but fun; it was amazing.
“I was delighted to be chosen. I met two other Scottish balloon artists from Bathgate, Jan and Bob Halliday, as well as CBA’S from the USA, Germany, Sweden and Canada.
“It was a unique collaborative experience where friendships and business contacts were made. I am already looking forward to taking part in the next big balloon build if I’m lucky enough to be chosen again.”
The event, which “far exceeded” Jacqui’s expectations, took the team more than three days to complete.
The magical experience which included stunning festive scenes crafted entirely from balloons, comprised of eight-foot jack in the boxes and other toys and presents, an enchanted forest and a 30-foot-high fairytale castle.
Jacqui told us: “Stuart has done a lot of big balloon builds. This is the fourth one and he worked in conjunction with the charity’s treasurer Naomi Spencer, who herself was helped by the charity when she was young.”
Former Rosehall High pupil Jacqui lives in Coatbridge with husband Robert and son Kyle and has honed her craft for more than 30 years.
She said: “Everybody does balloons, but not many people are certified balloon artists.
“I started in Airdrie and when I began, there were very few training opportunities and I mainly did weddings. I stopped when I had my son Kyle about 19 years ago and got a job in a kilt shop in Glasgow when he was a baby.
“I became a manager there and they asked me to do the window displays.
“It’s limited to what you can do to make windows different, so I got back into balloon making and I came back to it. I just love it.
“My husband is a cake maker. When we decided to open the shop in Wishaw I started in one corner and I’ve now taken up half the shop.”
Birmingham-based charity Free@last work with disadvantaged youngsters in their community by providing opportunities, activities and mentoring; visit https://www.freeatlast.st/ to find out more information.