Hi, I’m Hannah
Founder of the Young Collectors and Gallery Manager at Fen Ditton Gallery
“I am an art addict and modest collector. I was lucky to grow up in a house with art on the walls and went to art school, so starting my own collection was a natural step for me. I know that not everyone comes to it in that way and I hope to share with the community knowledge from my own experiences of working in the industry for the last 6 years and give them the confidence to start their own art collection.”
About the Young Collectors
What is the Young Collectors?
The Young Collectors is a community of new and aspiring collectors, launched in September 2021 in association in Fen Ditton Gallery, Cambridge. Art plays an important role in enriching our lives, particularly in such a screen-led world, but many younger people think that unless you have a degree in history of art or a background in the industry (or a huge bank balance), that art collecting isn’t for them. The idea of the Young Collectors developed from a desire to bring together our young and aspiring buyers and offer them the support and guidance in taking the first steps in their art collecting journey. That support might be in finding works within a certain budget or discovering new artists and mediums, but we also get lots of questions about the practical side of collecting too, such as how to frame and care for a work of art. The art industry can be very intimidating, but we want to make art collecting accessible for all - there is something for all budgets and tastes... and no silly questions!
Why did I launch the Young Collectors?
Breaking down those barriers of the art-world and making art accessible for all is one of our main motivations for launching the Young Collectors. I think new collectors have a really hard time in the industry, it can often be a very unwelcoming place and hold traditional values about what a collector looks like. Young and aspiring collectors feel like they won't be taken seriously when they start thinking about collecting. Our message is that you don't have to know anything about art to enjoy it and we encourage our collectors to buy a work of art, first and foremost, because they love it. An art collection is a life map, sparking a memory or story of a place or person, and it enriches our lives.
How did I get into art collecting?
I started collecting when I was 21 at an art auction that was held to raise money for my photography grad show. My first piece was a beautiful hand-coloured photograph by James Wedge and I still love it as much as I did when I first brought it home, it's really special. I was exposed to art from a young age - my childhood home was full of art and antiques so it was very much part of my upbringing. At 13, I thought it was a bit embarrassing when I brought my friends home to our 'museum' but looking back on it now I know how lucky I was.