Elaine Green: Five things I'd change about Guernsey

Friday 25 May 2018

Designer Elaine Green spends her life creating beautiful, bespoke items and told Express that Guernsey's beauty is among her inspirations every day.

Having trained in metalsmithing at Camberwell College of Art in the early nineties, Elaine has developed her craft since - with her business now based around a workshop where she produces jewel coloured homeware and decorative works in Guernsey. Express spoke to Elaine to find out more about her inspirations and to ask what five things she would change about Guernsey?

1. Workshops and workspaces

We need more affordable workspaces for entrepreneurs and creatives, including those businesses classed as light industries. I am lucky enough to have found a space which is suitable for my needs, but they are like 'hen's teeth' on the island.

This void is really frustrating and in my opinion unnecessary. There is a wealth of diverse talent in Guernsey but it is almost impossible to find affordable premises to work from. We should be seriously encouraging diverse and creative industries -  it is crazy to stifle enterprise when there is adequate accommodation on the island if we could just loosen up some of the planning laws.

2. Change is good!

As an island we need to learn to embrace change and loosen up a bit!

Some great ideas have been proposed for shared workshop spaces on sites that have historically been designated for light industrial and/or retail use but have become derelict. Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of negative thinking and nay-saying that halt some exciting proposals in their tracks.

Change doesn’t have to be bad. A few extra and interesting visitor attractions would be great for the island - holiday makers and we locals alike love to see creative industries in action and we then can buy their produce and inject money back into the economy too.

3. Sort out the empty States buildings 

We should let people legally use old buildings on their land for their own projects, but similarly the States could be more transparent about the properties they own. Many of them are unused and are just rotting away. People could be putting these buildings to good use and maintaining them in the mean time.

Pictured: File image of Fort Richmond, currently for sale by the States of Guernsey

4. Trade shows 

I would love to see a whole Channel Island trade/design biennale held for small businesses and creatives across the Channel Islands so that we could all exhibit together. An opportunity to cross pollinate ideas and strengthen bonds between small businesses across all of our islands, and for the public to see what’s going on next door, could benefit everyone!

If the costs to exhibit and attend were affordable it would make for a really diverse and inclusive show and if traveling between islands was included as part of the event it would be a great and exciting way to introduce ourselves to one another and to celebrate the talents within our islands as a whole. 

5. Warmer sea

I'd love the sea around Guernsey to be warmer, all year round. (Note: this is fantasy warm sea, not the damage causing kind!)

Pictured: Ladies Bay in the sunshine

You can view and purchase Elaine Green's work via her website stylistsown.co.uk.