Even as a child, Fiona Szekely had a flair for art and design, but it was only when she decided to bow out of her long career in the NHS that she was able to give full rein to her talents.
In June last year she set up her own business, Ambience Interior Furnishings, and already her fabulous textile designs are making an impact with discerning customers who want something different, luxurious yet functional.
At her home in North Chailey, Fiona makes a fantastic selection of distinctive and eye-catching one-of-a-kind items that are exquisitely designed, superbly handcrafted and full of quirky character. They really do stand out from the crowd but despite the hours of work and the top-quality textiles Fiona uses to great effect, they come at affordable prices.
It was a quantum leap for both her and her husband, Gabor, to leave their increasingly stressful posts with the NHS. Fiona had always had a flair for art so it seemed the ideal path to follow.
But before committing herself to a new career, she embarked on a number of courses to develop a variety of skills and devoted a great deal of research into innovative techniques she could use as a basis for her work by putting her own stamp on them.
The creative juices were soon flowing and Fiona and Gabor turned their efforts into preparing for last year’s launch of the new business, sourcing and building up a stock of beautiful and unusual textiles she could work with.
“My father was an artist and I always enjoyed watching him produce beautiful paintings, but felt he was so good that I would never be able to emulate him,” she says. “I never considered that I could compete with or reproduce his skills, yet I had always enjoyedbeing creative.
“I knew I had a flair for design and an understanding of colour co-ordination and often ended up carrying out projects for friends and relatives in dressmaking and interior design, but I only regarded this as a hobby.
“It was just a few years ago when owing to both the changing face of the NHS and unexpected opportunities in my life, I thought of starting my own arts and crafts business. I joined a local quilting group which inspired and improved my own creativity and techniques.
“After some research, selling several items to friends and acquaintances and a few attempts to break into the arts and crafts market, I thought I would regret not taking the opportunity, although I did wonder if I could meet that challenge.
“But with encouragement from my husband and some friends in the business world, my dreams and aspirations were finally fulfilled. I love the freedom and opportunities to produce articles which will both inspire and appeal.”
It was the quilters group she joined that proved the catalyst for Fiona deciding to go ahead with her business and she pays special credit to the inspiration she gained from award-winning quilter and teacher, Gail Lawther.
“I started making picture quilts and gradually started to design and make my own,” Fiona says. “I also absorbed a lot of different arts and crafts and painting techniques but developed my own style.”
The result is a stunning array of exquisite cushions, bags, incredible table and floor lamps, beautiful original paintings and even the most amazing animal footstools. Fiona’s imagination and use of colour know no boundaries and each piece is a one-off – a work of art in itself.
She also loves a challenge. A very high proportion of her work is bespoke, commissioned by customers who give her an idea of what they would like or perhaps a photo to work from – she will then put her own interpretation on it and produce something really beautiful.
“I’m also really inspired by nature, I find that now I look at things differently when I’m out and about in the countryside and I take more time to look at the colours around me. I love dance and movement and in my paintings I try to capture that movement.”
One of Fiona’s most imaginative designs is proving a hit in the medical world – personalised scrub caps for use in operating theatres. They are already widely used by theatre staff at Southampton General Hospital and may soon be appearing at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. They could well prove to be a big potential market in line with NHS requirements for staff to use reuseable products.
Other big sellers are the floor and table lamps. Painted on silk, the shades cast a wonderful glow.
Fiona works from a studio at her home and although this is not generally open to the public, she does welcome visitors by appointment. She is also hoping in future to run workshops for small groups of up to five people, teaching them a variety of art forms and crafts including quilting and painting. Among her future plans is producing patterns for quilts – she has invested in an American longarm quilting machine which has huge potential and can work with quilts up to 14 feet wide and in a variety of styles.
Call Fiona on 07538 985219 or email
fionaszekely@ambienceinteriorfurnishings.co.uk
to commission something beautiful