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Hamish Baird

Crowd-funding launches British artist's career



A British artist thanks crowd-funding for launching his career.
Friends of Hamish Baird recommended that he should explore this particular route to gain investment for his work. “Two of my great mates, Tom and Charlie Lawton were enthusiastic about the idea and encouraged me to check out this option as a potential way to launch my new career,” he recalls. “Inspired, I headed home, did the relevant research and came up with a project concept. Shortly afterwards I launched ‘The Snowdonia Project’. My very generous backers (to whom I am exceptionally grateful) helped me to raise the funds that I required to spend three months painting, photographing and filming the arrival of autumn in North Wales. And with that, I’d made the decision to become a full-time landscape artist.” Prior to this Hamish had been living and working as a 2d animator in the city of Bristol for 12 years and although he loved the work (and still does), something inside was gunning for change. He left Bristol and shortly after found himself with the opportunity to become the owner of a 1979 Mercedes 508d bus, equipped with ample storage, a wood burning stove and an assortment of components from a previous kitchen. Over the course of the next year and a half, Hamish spent time in Hampshire restoring parts of the bus. He upgraded the electrics, built a new kitchen, fixed the water pump, refurbished the boiler, built a bed and storage unit and involved himself with countless other DIY and renovation projects.

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“Once the project began, I made my way around Snowdonia parking the bus at various campsites where I could recharge the leisure batteries, laptop, camera and replenish my fresh water tanks. On the first day of a new location I would head off on foot to explore and captures scenes from the local landscape and then for the rest of the weekdays I would be sat painting in the back of the van. In the evenings I would light the fire and set about uploading the days work to my blog, doing my utmost to keep my project followers up to date with my paintings, photos and experiences. Mobile phone reception was a challenge to be sure, but by and large I succeeded in keeping the project flowing from week to week until its conclusion.” At the end of the project, Hamish returned from Snowdonia and took the decision to sell the bus, finding himself yet again faced with the potential for creating a new adventure. “Quite out of the blue came an opportunity to rent a Mongolian yurt in Devon for a year. I couldn’t believe my luck and given that I had enjoyed the off-grid lifestyle so much, I snapped it up without a moment’s hesitation”. The six-metre diameter structure has become Hamish’s home and studio, and is ideally situated to reach the shores of the south coast, or the woods, rivers and moorland around the Dartmoor area. Tucked away in the corner of a wild flower meadow, a stone’s throw away from the sleepy town of Totnes, Hamish has found great inspiration and motivation from living within the tranquility of natural surroundings. “Life in the yurt is simple, comfortable and a great deal easier than living in the bus as water and electricity are ever present. Wind, rain and birdsong are all easily heard from inside the yurt, creating an enduring connection to the countryside outside, and it’s this aspect to my current lifestyle and work format in which I have come to place great value.” In the winter the wood-burner staves off cold, dries clothes, keeps a pot of coffee warm all day and all in all, exceeds its role as the heart of the dwelling. In the summer the crown (circular roof section) can be untoggled and removed from the ceiling, allowing in cool wafts of fresh air. It's a wonderful way to live being so close to mother nature and I find that every morning I'm keen to get the kettle on, clean my palette and get cracking.” “I’m close enough to town to quickly pop in and stock up on food or materials, presenting me also with a welcomed opportunity to briefly be surrounded by other human beings. It’s somewhat of a relief that the weekly shop is now achieved by using a car, rather than a growling three-and-a-half-tonne truck with no power steering!” He adds: “All these experiences have deepened my awareness of just how removed we have become from our connection to our environment. By choosing to favour comfort and convenience over conscience and connection, I think we’ve lost touch with something very special. Three years living within the palms of nature has quietly guided me in the right direction, brought into focus my abilities and ambitions, and tempered the inspiring belief that the path now set out before me is not only the right one, but the only one for me.” Hamish is planning another adventure in Dorset in May where he will wild camp and work outdoors as much as possible. www.hamishbaird.com


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Tim Saunders is the former Business and Motoring Editor of the Bournemouth Echo in the UK. testdrives.biz


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