Claire
Coles

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I live just outside the city centre of Norwich, Norfolk. My studio is based in the Norwich Lanes in the heart of the city.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

Being near water always clears my head and helps me unwind. Winterton-On-Sea is my favourite local beach it’s a 30min drive away. In the winter months hundreds of seals come here to breed, in the summertime the water is lovely for a swim.

I also love to spend time at Fritton Lake, a rewilding site in Norfolk. It has a lovely restaurant, wellness classes and my favourite spot is the floating sauna on the lake. Sundays I often head to The Sainsbury Centre. There is a sculpture trail in the grounds which I walk around with my family and our dog, we can then go into the gallery for coffee and check out the latest exhibitions.

There is also Marston Marsh just outside the city, where I regularly go for walks and take a dip in the river on hot days. I love how quickly you can get from the city to nature in Norwich.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

Politics in the UK is currently a bit of a disaster, so I’ll just focus on local issues.

Norfolk and Suffolk have some of the fastest eroding coastlines in Europe. I’ve noticed on my beach walks how quickly the coast is retreating! Many local people have lost homes in recent years due to coastal erosion and with every year that passes this is becoming a more prominent issue on our coastline.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years— and what has not?

I have noticed that the cycle lanes in and around the city have got better, I cycle everyday to work and love that I can commute safely about the city. The council is trying hard to promote a greener transport network.

But the funding for creative arts has been cut locally and nationally, leading to the loss of valuable education resources and charities.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

— Ros Arrowsmith: a Norwich based ceramicist selling tactile hand thrown table wear. He offers classes where you can learn how to throw pottery.
— Bowhill and Elliott: They sell beautiful shoes and slippers, all handmade in the store.
— Flint Vineyard: They offer wine tours and their Sparkling Rose is delicious.
— Fen Farm Dairy: Their Baron Bigod is seriously addictive.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

The region has a pretty flat landscape which gives us beautiful big skies. Norfolk has 90 miles of coastline, the beaches vary from family friendly seaside spots to rugged march land.

Norfolk is full of innovative small businesses and creatives. One of the reasons I decided to move here is that I can go from the vibrant city to the calm of the countryside so easily. With fast train links to London, I can easily check out current exhibitions or organise meetings with clients here. I feel I have the best of both worlds living in Norfolk.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

One of my favourite places to eat in the city is L’Hexagone, a small french bistro in the Norwich lanes. Out of the city I love Rocky Bottoms on the Norfolk coast offering fresh local seafood.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

Norwich Market has an excellent variety of produce. The food stalls are incredible (voted best UK outdoor market in 2019).

My Favourite shops in Norwich are:
— Atwin: homeware and lifestyle store focusing on local makers.
— Juni & Co: beauty and wellness store focussing on local, sustainable brands.
— Jarrolds: An independent department store in the heart of the city.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

— Spotify: for music and podcasts
— Zoom: during the week I like to start the day with an online pilates class by Rise Collective.
— Instagram: for updating followers on life in the studio

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

Daily I go onto the BBC website to see the news. I’m dyslexic and I find it hard to retain information when I read, so I would go to the radio or a podcast for information.We normally have BBC 6 music on in the studio. I have recently been listening to ‘How To Fail ‘ with Elizabeth Day and The Witch Trials of J. K. Rolling.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

The county of Norfolk has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the country, this is shocking as we are a large producer of the UK’s food. I would make sure families were provided with the financial and educational support to feed themselves healthily.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?

Much of my work is inspired by Chinoiserie, I would love the opportunity to spend time in Japan to explore the art and landscape.