Family carves out a niche in home design

Jan 26 2010 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

HANNAH DAVIES speaks to a group of local artists who are defying the economic downturn with their new family business.

Didier has long since separated from Jaya’s mother and he brought Jaya up in Durham where she attended St Margaret’s Primary school and Framwellgate Moor School before going to Sunderland University.

Didier works professionally as a freelance artist and is well known in the area. He has produced pieces for the Roman Catholic community centre in Consett, a wood-sculpture piece for Durham’s Belmont Primary School’s sensory garden in addition to work for places such as the Tanfield Railway Museum.

He was keen to get involved with Elephant Tree as well, as Didier explains: “We are a family and we do work as a family so it is good to do this.

“Also Jaya does the website which is something I can’t do.”

Jaya adds: “We make things which last, and people are increasingly getting sick of something which they will just use for a few years and then throw away.

“Art doesn’t age and it is something which you can pass down as heirlooms.”

Jaya says they became excited about the possibilities of unique pieces of furniture and artworks when they were looking at designing their own home on land Dougie’s family owns in the Isle of Mull in Scotland.

The family have since decided to stay in Durham but after investigating self-builds they have had their imaginations fired.

“When you design your own home you want unique pieces to put in it,” Jaya explains.

“People’s minds are changing from the throwaway society we’ve become to using locally made craftsmen using local materials and creating the kind of objects you want to treasure.”

Jaya, is currently coordinating most of the business in addition to running their website from their home in East Hedleyhope, while Dougie concentrates on making furniture.

But she also paints and curates as well as running art classes in local schools.

She explains: “To survive as an artist you operate on lots of different levels and when you have a family that takes on a whole new dimension as well.

“Which is how the idea behind Elephant Tree came about.

“At the moment we are concentrating on Dougie’s work but you can also contact Didier or myself about commissions, classes and work we’ve already produced.

“A tree has many branches an as artists so do we which is why it was the ideal name.”

For more information visit www.elephant-tree.co.uk or call Jaya on: 01388 730711 or email her jaya@elephant-tree.co.uk