A few decades might have passed, but the 49-year-old’s fascination for the natural world has never wavered – and it now takes centre stage in her artwork.
Lucy, who uses textiles like wool to add texture and depth to her pieces, might now live 365 miles from her hometown; but, in Redcar, she’s still on the doorstep of stunning countryside and coastlines.
And six years after swapping the big smoke for Teesside, she has now opened a new art gallery on Yarm High Street.
Yarm Contemporary, which opened in December, now brings original work and prints from local and national artists to the town in the former Pop Up Shop.
Yarm Contemporary art gallery (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
Lucy had been displaying artwork in Fairfax Court for some time but decided to jump at the chance to open a permanent home in Yarm due to its “strong sense of community”.
The self-taught artist got the keys to the space in October and, along with her partner turned fellow artist Lawrie Hutcheon, got to work on transforming the space.
Despite only being open a matter of weeks, Lucy, who moved to Redcar so her daughter could be closer to her grandparents, said it’s been nothing but positive.
Yarm Contemporary art gallery (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
“I actually feel really happy because people seem very welcoming and pleased that we are here”, she told The Northern Echo.
“People seem to think it is a very welcome thing and [are happy] to have a bit of variety in the high street.
“I wanted to open a place up in the north around here, I think it is such a lovely vibrant place.
Yarm Contemporary art gallery (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
“[Before we opened], I did go around doing some research and asking people [about the art gallery] and they were generally very positive. And all the shops support each other here.”
Lucy, with the help of Lawrie and others, have revamped the shop with white walls, bright lights, and, of course, an eclectic mix of artwork, from the funny to the fascinating.
The relaxing gallery is a completely different vibe from the hustle and bustle of Greenwich Market in London, one of the places Lucy first started selling art.
Weekend Vibes by Lucy Storrs (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
Yarm Contemporary art gallery (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
She said: “I started off in Greenwich then at Spitalfields at the market. Then I started doing art fairs so we got quite a bit of experience.
“Lawrie used to help me and then I think the company [he was working for at the time] folded and he just needed that nudge.
“We [still] take part in big art fairs in London and they are all so exciting, and I wanted to try and bring that feeling up to here.”
From Brixton to Battersea, both Lucy and Lawrie, 60, have had their work showcased at a string of exhibitions across the country, even as far as New York.
Labarinth by Lawrie Hutcheon (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
Despite now living on Teesside, Lucy and Lawrie, who has a studio in Redcar, will continue taking parts in events down south.
The new Yarm gallery means some of Lucy’s pieces will be able to go straight on display, as she works in a little studio space towards the rear of the unit.
Art events plan and £2k competition
Before she got into art professionally in 2013, Lucy says she wasn’t very career orientated and had outdoor-related jobs, including working on plant nurseries.
But she insists she has always been creative – and, being self-taught, thinks others can pick up art just like her.
“People think they have either got it or they don’t, but I think not,” she said. “It is about bringing that out and not being afraid to make mistakes.”
Two pieces of art by Bob and Eve (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
Lucy said she has more artwork than she can actually put on the wall of the gallery, some of which has sparked interest: “We have had a lot of people looking who have gone away to think about pieces – and then some people are really spontaneous. ”
She is hoping to have regularly changing artwork and has events in the pipeline: “We are going to have some art lates once a month and get different people to come in and talk about different themes to do with art.”
To celebrate the opening of Yarm Contemporary, Lucy is also hosting a special £2000 art giveaway, which has been donated by a number of artists.
Lucy Storrs outside Yarm Contemporary with the artwork donated for the giveaway (Image: YARM CONTEMPORARY)
To participate, art lovers need to come and visit the gallery on the High Street and sign up to the mailing list, with everyone entering getting 10 per cent off art of their choosing.
For more information on Yarm Contemporary, head to Instagram on @yarm_contemporary_art or online by copying and pasting the following link: https://www.yarmcontemporary.co.uk/