Tell us a bit about your current job.

My name is Maria and I am a picture framer. I work in a beautiful little independent shop called Sowley-UK, based in the heart of Canterbury. I have been framing there for over 6 years now and I love it! In my time there I have framed all types of art work, from small to big, stretched many canvases of all sorts of sizes, football shirts, a small christening dress, a wedding bouquet, a fish rod and many more unusual things. It is a challenge sometimes but I do love it. Every day is something different.

What and where did you study after school?

I knew from a young age I'd be doing something creative in my life. My grandfather was an architect and I always played around with his materials on his massive wooden architect’s drawing table. I came to study in England from Cyprus at 17 years old, September 2007. I chose Canterbury as a town to study in, as I have family very close by. I studied at University of Creative Arts UCA and I did four years there. I went straight into an Art and Design Foundation course as I wasn't sure what to study, graphic design or interior design! I ended up going in a totally different path, and studied Fine Art Painting.

How did you get from answer 2 to answer 1?

After graduating I was very lucky to find a job almost straight away in an amazing art supplies shop called Chromos in Canterbury, it was like Aladdin‘s Cave for artists, architects and crafters. I had learnt so much there and had some great years but unfortunately the shop closed down and I got made redundant. I have an aunt based in Faversham, who I helped every so often with framing while I was at university, and throughout working at Chromos. After being made redundant I took framing to the next level and was working more with my aunt and she was training me at the same time. I then managed to get the framing position in my current workplace and have never looked back. I thoroughly enjoy framing and was so lucky to have the opportunity to be trained by my aunt!

How does your formal education feed into your present career (if at all)?

I have always had an artistic background and enjoyed playing with colours in an interior design way. Having studied Fine Art and working in an art supply shop helped me so much with framing. I understand the concept of colour schemes, what mount board colour goes with what frame style, and I get some great ideas that are a bit different from your traditional picture frame. It has definitely helped me think bigger and more confident with my ideas.

What things have you learnt outside of formal education that have been helpful to your career? 

Working in a retail environment has helped me with how to talk and deal with customers. They come to me for a framing service so I always ask them what they will like the finished piece to look like. Sometimes they have no idea, but other times they are confident with what they want. If I believe the whole piece will not look nice how they have suggested, I use the communication skills I have learned, to put ideas to them without being pushy, as at the end of the day it will be hanging on there wall for years to come. Also working at the supply shop, we had all types of paper from acrylic to watercolour and knowing about these types has helped me with how to frame specialist paper like that. 

What are the really useful skills for someone in your job to possess?

With framing it helps if you have patience to do big and difficult complicated jobs and deal with all the customers,  you would need to be good with timing and hitting deadlines and being able to work under stress and tackling loads of jobs at the same time. Also the eye for detail and a little creativity are also key.

What does an average day at work look like for you?

I see what needs to be done and who needs the picture framed in a specific time frame and plan my day. In the meantime I can get called downstairs on the shop floor to take framing orders and help then choose the right frame. I could be from 5 minutes to an hour with a customer, you can never judge how long it could all take. So we talk about what they would like the finished piece to look like, then ask them if they would like a mount around it, and when all that is decided we go to the moulding (frame) they would like. If they have absolutely no idea we just play around with colours and different styles of moulding and come to conclusion what fits the art piece best. I’m alway happy to give my opinion as I have experience and I can visualise the art piece framed and hanged. After serving a customer or more throughout the day I start the framing process. Depending what the customer has chosen, I could be measuring the different elements, if a mount is needed I then cut the mount to size, I cut and clean the glass and I cut the backing boards. Once all that is done, I cut the moulding to size and put it all together. Each order is different so they all vary in what I need to do.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my job is that I can still be creative and have the opportunity to make frames which people will keep forever. You never have two frames the same, so every day is different, and it’s one of the reasons I love my job. One of my favourite things I always enjoy is listening to the stories that come with the artwork and photographs I frame, and meeting the artists.

What’s your least favourite aspect of your job?

With every job there is stress, and one thing I dislike is bringing my work stress at home and not being able to switch off, thinking of different ways to tackle the issue. I sometimes find it hard to unwind and relax in my own comfort zone. 

What advice would you give to someone seeking a job like yours? 

Just go for it, it was the best thing I’ve ever done! Being organised, planning your day and prioritising helps with meeting deadlines. Understand how hard you would need to work and keep it up to get all the work in. Lastly, having passion for the job. 

‘Measure twice cut once!’ 

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