The Belfast-based designer tells us more about her hotel and fashion collaborations …
I define my style as vintage re-imagined – I love bold colour and vintage style, mixed with contemporary pattern and maximalism. My hospitality projects are my main bread and butter business, and I work to spec with my sisters, interior designers Genna and Susie.
My clients include The Hoxton, Hilton, Marriott, Moxy, Wilde and NYX. Office projects include Google, Linked-In and EY. I loved working on The Hoxton Dublin as I had the opportunity to commission Irish artists and curate the reception artwork and multiple salon hangs in the hotel. I also enjoy designing murals and custom wallpaper, working with Newmor Wallcoverings; my designs are in hotels such as The Grand Brighton, The Harrison, Belfast, Lyla’s, The Cromlix and the Conrad.
My career definitely did not pan out the way I foresaw until now, in my 50s. Everything I do is a culmination of 30 years in the art and design business. My parents were a formative influence as I grew up surrounded by art and books. After being art teachers for a few years, they opened an interior design business in the 1980s on Botanic Avenue in Belfast. Our home was always filled with colour, pattern and fabric sample books from companies like Colefax & Fowler, Zoffany, Osborne & Little and Cole & Son. I spent hours drawing, painting and designing as a child. I used to make myself clothes from the sample books as a teenager.
I studied Visual Communications at Belfast College of Art in the 1990s, specialising in illustration. As there was very little work for illustrators when I left art college, I went into fashion retail and ended up moving to London to manage the Karen Millen Store in High Street Kensington. After six months, I felt like I was not fulfilling my potential creatively, so I called every gallery in the city until I landed a job with a spin-off called Easy Art, a bricks to clicks dot com boom company.
I was then headhunted by Eyestorm in the early 2000s, which worked with Charles Saatchi and Magnum photography. We published the first limited edition prints by artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Ed Rusha. I managed both the London and New York Galleries, and would fly back and forth every five days, living in hotels in SoHo New York. It was a very exciting time in my career. I went on to become Associate Director of Proud Galleries, a photography gallery in London, primarily focused on fashion and music. I worked with Rankin, David Bailey, Mick Rock, Helena Christiansen and many others.
After that, I set up my first art consultancy and gallery, collaborating with brands such as Selfridges, creating events and exhibitions to launch new ranges.
I returned to Belfast 20 years ago and I started Carrie Neely Contemporary Art from my kitchen table. I saw a gap in the market for artists, so I started to hold exhibitions and events to champion them. This became Art Loves and I got my first big hotel job. At the same time, I began to create my own work and launched my brand Myrtle & Mary that sells art, fashion and homeware. I now design for multiple brands and hotel clients. Our HQ is in Ballyhackamore and my sisters keep me on track!
Recent projects include my fourth collection for Aspinal of London – there are currently 36 of my designs in stores, online, in Harrods and Selfridges. I absolutely loved working on these designs that include a Zodiac set, Aspinal Garden, Up Up & Away (one of my popular Hotel Air Balloon Designs), Savannah, Tropical Garden, Roses of the Orien, and enchanted garden, to name a few. Another recent project was a fabric and curtain collection of 22 designs for Terrys in London. I also have an art print collection with East End Prints & Dunelm.
My advice to anyone considering art as a career is to do what you love doing. Even if it’s niche, there’s a market for everyone. Also, spend time creating a great portfolio to send to galleries or creative companies you want to work for. More than anything, visualise yourself working with them. Don’t email links to a prospective client; share visuals as that’s how they’ll remember you and your style. Visual thinkers never forget an amazing painting, a beautiful design or a strong portfolio. Even if they don’t have anything suitable at that time, if they’re looking for something in the future that has your style written all over it, they will remember you. Never give up. You were born to do this.
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