Wimbledon Schoolboys Return With Arty Business


Look out for Tom and Bill on the Piazza

Two former Wimbledon schoolboys will be on a mission this Easter weekend - to help more SW19 parents use art to bring storytime to life.

Tom Glossop and Bill Bows, who met at King's College School over 25 years ago, bring their range of framed children's art to Wimbledon’s Market on the Piazza on Good Friday and Saturday (April 3-4).

Tom said he couldn't find the fun, vibrant art that he wanted to buy to inspire fresh and exciting bedtime stories with his daughter Orla, so he decided to make it himself. When he started sharing his designs with a wider audience, OrlyArt was born.

Two years later, best friend Bill joined him to provide sales and marketing support, which included launching a blog earlier this year.

Already selling its framed prints - which can be personalised to include a child’s name and date of birth - and at local summer and winter fairs, OrlyArt has now secured a monthly pitch at the Love Wimbledon-organised Market on the Piazza.

Tom and his family live in New Malden, while Bill has crossed the river to settle in Muswell Hill, so the market represents an opportunity to return to their hometown. "Neither of us live in Wimbledon anymore, so it’s great for us to back here together on a regular basis," said Bill. "We love the place - lots of fantastic memories. We leapt at the chance to help bring even more visitors into the town!"

Inspiring creativity and storytelling through art has been Tom's driving force since day one.

"You really can’t beat a good story," says Tom. "And the very best ones are those we create with and for our children. We believe art has the potential to spark new and ever more exciting and creative tales. It's so much more than home décor!"

Bill recently became a father himself when his daughter was born in February. "Phoebe's not quite ready for stories yet, but when she is, I want every element of her home environment to allow her imagination to blossom and develop and that will include the art hanging on our walls. Hopefully there are a few more parents out there thinking the same!"

OrlyArt will be at the Market on the Piazza (just outside Morrisons in Wimbledon town centre) on April 3 and 4, which runs each day from 11am to 6pm.

March 31, 2015

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Bill and wife Donna, with baby Phoebe

Tom, Karina and daughter Orla