My Own Art Story: “A Way of Being Un-Trapped”
Originally from Scotland, Mitch is now based in Nottingham, where he teaches Science. Drawn to art from a young age, and once aspiring to become an architect, he found his path redirected when his colour-blindness prevented him from gaining the art qualification then required for pursuing architecture. Instead, he went on to study Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, nourishing his creative side by forming friendships with students from the nearby art college – connections that have remained meaningful throughout his life. Today, Mitch channels his passion for art into collecting. His home is filled with works created by those Edinburgh friends, along with more recent additions acquired with the help of Own Art.
During the first UK lockdown, Mitch was browsing the ScotlandArt website when he came across a painting that immediately captivated him. The piece, Let’s Stay at Home by Anne Butler, is a large, bright, and colourful depiction of a small Scottish cottage: “blue on top and yellow underneath, with a vibrancy that countered the inherent gloom of the times.” While everyone was confined to their homes during the height of the pandemic, Mitch – who uses an oxygen tube and is classed as clinically vulnerable – experienced even deeper isolation. The painting reminded him of Scotland, where he grew up and where the “air is different,” as he put it.
He described feeling “trapped” in his Nottingham home, and explained how this artwork, which evoked the landscape of his childhood, became “a way of being un-trapped,” transporting him to the Highlands at a time when he couldn’t travel there. He went on to share how having original art in his home has offered real and continuing health benefits – as he put it, “a lot of my art is of Scottish landscapes, because they always remind me of the ability to breathe.” (Image: Ruth Gillbanks, Fields of Gold)
He had fallen in love with the Butler painting, but the price – while average for a piece of original art at this scale – was beyond his reach. Fortunately, ScotlandArt is a member of Own Art, meaning that Mitch could spread the cost over 10 months, completely interest-free – “I wanted it so much, but I wouldn’t have been able to get it otherwise”. The Scotland Art team guided him through the process, delivered the painting to Mitch, and it hangs proudly in his home today. In fact, he found the process so simple, and the monthly costs so manageable, that Mitch has had “an Own Art [loan] on the go” ever since. So far, he has brought home nine other original artworks with the help of Own Art, supporting numerous artists along the way and becoming an important patron for his favourite galleries, Scotland Art in Glasgow and Frames in Perth. Now, Mitch has his own “Own Art logic”, which he shared with us,
“If I am spending £200 on artwork each month, that’s the equivalent of buying a few coffees each day, but this way my money has a much more lasting and meaningful impact”
Growing up, Mitch didn’t visit galleries and never expected to get into collecting original art – he remembers going to Frames in Perth to get prints framed, but even that was a luxury. Frames later moved to a new, larger space with a gallery inside, where Mitch was able to discover new art in a place that he had already become familiar with. (Image: Stephen Smith, Through the Fields)
For him, gallery staff must be knowledgeable, approachable, and never “sobby”. He remembers a scene from Absolutely Fabulous in which Jennifer Saunders’ character enters a gallery and, after being made to feel as though she doesn’t know what she’s looking for (which was likely true), turns to the gallery worker and says, “You only work in a shop, you know, you can drop the attitude”. Through this humorous, light-hearted reference, Mitch emphasised that while buying art is a luxury – an “event” – it shouldn’t be too much of an event, as that kind of pomp and ceremony can easily put people off.
Like Edina in that Ab Fab scene, Mitch doesn’t always know what he is looking for or what he is going to like when he enters a gallery. “I just go in, see something, it speaks to me, and I like it”, he said, going on to explain how frustrating he finds it when someone tells him what he likes or what he should buy. Mitch praised one of his favourite galleries, Frames, for its accessibility and unpretentiousness – they always make him feel comfortable and confident, even if he doesn’t know what he is looking for.
Having brought home so many wonderful pieces with the help of Own Art, Mitch can’t help but share the opportunity with other art lovers in his life: “I’ve just been speaking to a friend about Own Art, who didn’t know about the scheme, and said it’s the best thing I can think of to spend that money on.” He recently introduced his sister to the scheme, who has since been able to fill her home with artwork and, just like her brother, now always has “an Own Art on the go”.
Mitch’s journey with art shows how accessible collecting can be when curiosity meets the right support. From discovering new artists to sharing the Own Art scheme with the people he cares about, he’s built a collection and a relationship with art that continues to grow. For Mitch, the impact of owning original art is long-lasting. It enriches daily life, strengthens creative communities, and opens doors for anyone willing to step into a gallery and see what speaks to them.
Discover the artists and galleries mentioned in this article
ScotlandArt
Website: www.scotlandart.com | Instagram: scotlandartgallery
Frames
Website: www.framesgallery.co.uk | Instagram: framesgallery
Anne Butler
Website: www.annebutlerart.com | Instagram: annebutlerart
With thanks to Mitch for sharing his story with us. This interview has been edited for clarity, length and readability.