Antiques News & Fairs
all about antiques design & fairs since 1998

July 2024: ANTIQUES NEWS & FAIRS is moving to a new home at The House Directory - where antiques meet interior design!  A new and exciting collaboration aligning our 2 brands for a wider reach.  Stay tuned for more news!

ANF Blog
prev  next

FAIR LADIES - INGRID NILSON - ADFL LTD

The first in our series about female fair organisers - they seem to be in the majority in this industry! Organising multiple fairs is a heavy duty job requiring a lot of travel and people skills which our "fair ladies" seem to manage with equanimity.

Our first subject is Ingrid Nilson - an organiser, dealer and sometime exhibitor with a proven track record of luxury boutique events around the UK, working with both BADA and LAPADA members.

ANF How did you get into the antiques business?

IN My first job in the UK was as assistant at the Stephanie Hoppen which at that point specialised in decorative antique prints and maps. I worked there between 1984 and 1989, and on leaving set up my own antique print dealing business.

ANFHow long were you a dealer and what made you decide to run fairs?

IN I am still a dealer, albeit in a very small way, so that is twenty-six years. The launch of Antiques Dealers Fair Limitedcame in 2003 when LAPADA was looking for an organiser to run a new provincial fair for the membership. At the time I was a board member, and had experience in fairs organising, having worked as a consultant to Bailey Fairs for ten years, since 1993, whilst also exhibiting prints at their events.

ANF What is the best thing about running fairs?

IN The best thing is the varied work, the travel and excitement, the camaraderie and sense of fun. There are many loyal exhibitors who have taken part in the majority of our forty-one events to date, such as Art of the Imagination, Ashleigh House Fine Art, Cambridge Fine Art, Freshfords Fine Antiques, Garret & Hurst Sculpture, Haynes Fine Art, M&N Oriental Rugs, Melody Antiques, Plaza, T Robert and S&S Timms Antiques to name but a few, and we are a small team on the organising side, so there is a family feel to the whole business.

ANFAnd the worst?

IN The worst part is all the uncertainty, both financially and venue/date wise, and the fact that you are at the mercy of fashion, the economy, the weather and other major factors outside your control.

ANF Your new fair, Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair launches on 8th May 2015 in West Sussex. What made you choose Petworth Park?

IN Ever since I became involved in fairs, Petworth House has been mentioned as the perfect location for an event. I was lucky enough to be invited by the National Trust to consider staging a fair there, and I am very grateful to Jackie Tudor>, former chairman of The Petworth Business Association, for the introduction. It has been a pleasure dealing with the helpful people at the venue and the dealers, restaurants and associations in town. The fair is turning into a great collaboration for the whole of Petworth, not least because a courtesy vehicle will run between the marquee in the Park and the town centre so visitors can enjoy all that is on offer whilst leaving their cars in our free car park. The Petworth Antique Dealers' Association will be present at the fair and a number of their members will be exhibiting including John Bird Antiques, Augustus Brandt Antiques and Ronald Chambers Antiques.

ANF Organising fairs is hard work. What hobbies do you have to relax and take your mind off work?

IN The work is pretty all consuming, just as being a dealer is, but I find ordinary house work quite a tonic – ironing is not a chore. As our garden has some apple trees, my husband Åke and I make our own cider, and doing the pressing and bottling takes your mind off business, as well as having friends over to sample it!

ANF You grew up in Scandinavia, what made you decide to live in Kent and do you miss/yearn for Sweden?

IN Åke and I have lived permanently in England since 1983, and we moved to a small village on the Kent/East Sussex border in 1990. We found a house that was perfect for our needs, often having family to stay, and you can still be in London in a little over an hour. We have become quite involved in village life – I am now secretary of the local cricket club – and feel very much at home here. I do not miss Sweden as such, but the drawback is that you are far away and it takes time and planning to see the family.

ANF You often have local charities at your fairs. How do you decide which ones to support?

IN There are so many charities and most of them require support and awareness of their cause. We are pleased to help by donating a stand, promoting them to a new audience and reminding local people of their existence and mission. At previous fairs, we have had The Art Fund, local hospices, Help for Heroes and The Poppy Factory.

At our new Petworth event, the National Trust is raising funds for The Lighting Project at Petworth House. Petworth House is home to important works of art and great care has been taken to find the right type and style of lighting, which is quite an investment. We are also supporting the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which is particularly relevant as both Haynes Fine Art of Broadway and Rountree Tryon Galleries Ltd have David Shepherd’s work for sale. The latter also sells paintings by his daughter Mandy Shepherd and grand-daughter Emily Lamb.

ANF What is the funniest thing that has happened to you whilst in the trade?

IN There have been lots of fun moments, since our industry is made up of highly individual characters. Rearranging stands used to be quite common if it was someone's birthday at a fair, and there was also the incident with the suit of armour...

ANF Is there any one person who you would say has been a major influence on you and your life?

IN My first boss, Stephanie Hoppen, gave me a crash course in business and she remains an inspiration and great supporter. During my time at her gallery, I also made friends with Anne Treadwell who now deals as Atlantico Rugs, and I am proud godmother to her lovely daughter Louisa.

You probably don't know that I am also godmother to a small rescue hovercraft! It is named after my late father-in-law B G Nilson, who was involved in the cross Channel hovercraft industry, and was bequeathed to the Swedish equivalent of the RNLI in his memory.

I think many in the trade will also recognise that Robert Bailey's fairs were the launch pad for many a dealer, and he made a big mark on the fairs scene for over three decades. I would not be an organiser today had it not been for the years I spent working for Robert and getting to know dealers who are now both clients and good friends.
 
 


Antiques News Blog
Antiques News Blog   /   FAIR LADIES - INGRID NILSON - ADFL LTD

FAIR LADIES - INGRID NILSON - ADFL LTD

The first in our series about female fair organisers - they seem to be in the majority in this industry! Organising multiple fairs is a heavy duty job requiring a lot of travel and people skills which our "fair ladies" seem to manage with equanimity.

Our first subject is Ingrid Nilson - an organiser, dealer and sometime exhibitor with a proven track record of luxury boutique events around the UK, working with both BADA and LAPADA members.

ANF How did you get into the antiques business?

IN My first job in the UK was as assistant at the Stephanie Hoppen which at that point specialised in decorative antique prints and maps. I worked there between 1984 and 1989, and on leaving set up my own antique print dealing business.

ANFHow long were you a dealer and what made you decide to run fairs?

IN I am still a dealer, albeit in a very small way, so that is twenty-six years. The launch of Antiques Dealers Fair Limitedcame in 2003 when LAPADA was looking for an organiser to run a new provincial fair for the membership. At the time I was a board member, and had experience in fairs organising, having worked as a consultant to Bailey Fairs for ten years, since 1993, whilst also exhibiting prints at their events.

ANF What is the best thing about running fairs?

IN The best thing is the varied work, the travel and excitement, the camaraderie and sense of fun. There are many loyal exhibitors who have taken part in the majority of our forty-one events to date, such as Art of the Imagination, Ashleigh House Fine Art, Cambridge Fine Art, Freshfords Fine Antiques, Garret & Hurst Sculpture, Haynes Fine Art, M&N Oriental Rugs, Melody Antiques, Plaza, T Robert and S&S Timms Antiques to name but a few, and we are a small team on the organising side, so there is a family feel to the whole business.

ANFAnd the worst?

IN The worst part is all the uncertainty, both financially and venue/date wise, and the fact that you are at the mercy of fashion, the economy, the weather and other major factors outside your control.

ANF Your new fair, Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair launches on 8th May 2015 in West Sussex. What made you choose Petworth Park?

IN Ever since I became involved in fairs, Petworth House has been mentioned as the perfect location for an event. I was lucky enough to be invited by the National Trust to consider staging a fair there, and I am very grateful to Jackie Tudor>, former chairman of The Petworth Business Association, for the introduction. It has been a pleasure dealing with the helpful people at the venue and the dealers, restaurants and associations in town. The fair is turning into a great collaboration for the whole of Petworth, not least because a courtesy vehicle will run between the marquee in the Park and the town centre so visitors can enjoy all that is on offer whilst leaving their cars in our free car park. The Petworth Antique Dealers' Association will be present at the fair and a number of their members will be exhibiting including John Bird Antiques, Augustus Brandt Antiques and Ronald Chambers Antiques.

ANF Organising fairs is hard work. What hobbies do you have to relax and take your mind off work?

IN The work is pretty all consuming, just as being a dealer is, but I find ordinary house work quite a tonic – ironing is not a chore. As our garden has some apple trees, my husband Åke and I make our own cider, and doing the pressing and bottling takes your mind off business, as well as having friends over to sample it!

ANF You grew up in Scandinavia, what made you decide to live in Kent and do you miss/yearn for Sweden?

IN Åke and I have lived permanently in England since 1983, and we moved to a small village on the Kent/East Sussex border in 1990. We found a house that was perfect for our needs, often having family to stay, and you can still be in London in a little over an hour. We have become quite involved in village life – I am now secretary of the local cricket club – and feel very much at home here. I do not miss Sweden as such, but the drawback is that you are far away and it takes time and planning to see the family.

ANF You often have local charities at your fairs. How do you decide which ones to support?

IN There are so many charities and most of them require support and awareness of their cause. We are pleased to help by donating a stand, promoting them to a new audience and reminding local people of their existence and mission. At previous fairs, we have had The Art Fund, local hospices, Help for Heroes and The Poppy Factory.

At our new Petworth event, the National Trust is raising funds for The Lighting Project at Petworth House. Petworth House is home to important works of art and great care has been taken to find the right type and style of lighting, which is quite an investment. We are also supporting the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which is particularly relevant as both Haynes Fine Art of Broadway and Rountree Tryon Galleries Ltd have David Shepherd’s work for sale. The latter also sells paintings by his daughter Mandy Shepherd and grand-daughter Emily Lamb.

ANF What is the funniest thing that has happened to you whilst in the trade?

IN There have been lots of fun moments, since our industry is made up of highly individual characters. Rearranging stands used to be quite common if it was someone's birthday at a fair, and there was also the incident with the suit of armour...

ANF Is there any one person who you would say has been a major influence on you and your life?

IN My first boss, Stephanie Hoppen, gave me a crash course in business and she remains an inspiration and great supporter. During my time at her gallery, I also made friends with Anne Treadwell who now deals as Atlantico Rugs, and I am proud godmother to her lovely daughter Louisa.

You probably don't know that I am also godmother to a small rescue hovercraft! It is named after my late father-in-law B G Nilson, who was involved in the cross Channel hovercraft industry, and was bequeathed to the Swedish equivalent of the RNLI in his memory.

I think many in the trade will also recognise that Robert Bailey's fairs were the launch pad for many a dealer, and he made a big mark on the fairs scene for over three decades. I would not be an organiser today had it not been for the years I spent working for Robert and getting to know dealers who are now both clients and good friends.