The Smallest Visitor Attraction in Ely?

I have just submitted a form for the East of England Awards Competition.
Ted Coney's Family Portraits falls into the Small Visitor Attraction catergory apparently, as I have less than 50,000 visitors a year! I had to put in lots of evidence, like my Access statement, my Business Plan, my advertising material and all my press cuttings. I enjoyed putting it altogether, and those of you who know me, know I do like a challenge .Even if I get a mention, I can use it in my publicity and who knows!? Best Wishes Ted
PS I have just submitted an idea for the London 2012 Open Weekend and am about to go in for the East Cambridge Business Awards, so there is no stopping me now!!

It's Back!

A couple of weeks ago I went out in my 1931 Morris Minor for a spin and broke down on double yellow lines! I had to get the AA to take it to my old garage in Great Shelford to fix. Ofcourse it went in style on the back of a low loader (my towing days are over) and thank goodness I was able to drive it back yesterday. It just meant that visitors to Ted Coney's Family Portraits last Sunday had to make do with a photograph of the Morris, rather than the real thing.
By the way, I was approached by an elderly gentleman in Littleport who asked me if I could take the Morris to their annual show. Although I don't normally go in for such things (incase visitors ask me technical questions about the car, which I can't answer) I shall use it as another marketing oppotunity for the Gallery. Is Littleport ready for me, I wonder?

Small is Beautiful

My neice Isobel gave me a minature canvas and easle for my birthday earlier this year. I have been pondering ever since how I could use it for Ted Coney's Family Portraits. Well, now I have the answer. Although I am happy to sell prints of my paintings through UK Photo Gallery, I didn't want be selling things from the house, otherwise I might put some people off coming. However, a small , discreet advert won't go amiss, so the canvas and easle seemed like the perfect answer. It will sit next to the computer, so when visitors look at the electronic sketchbook, their eyes may alight on the words ' PRINTS OF THE PAINTINGS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM www.ukphotogallery.com' which will be sitting next door. I'll let you know if it causes any comment or even sales Ted

A New Money Making Venture

Although I have never had any intention of selling my paintings, I thought it was an interesting idea when Bill , who designed my web-site, suggested that I went into E-commerce to sell prints of my work. Although a little sceptical, I explored further and teamed up a local company, the UK Photo Gallery. To my sirprise I sold my first print last week. It was bought by someone who had previously visited Ted Coney's Family Portraits, so I am not sure if that counts. When I get a sale directly from the web-site (which is linked to my web-site on the' About the Collection' page), then I know I will finally arrived.

The Great Earth Mother

I also need to report the death of my dear sister-in-law, Kari. She was a lovely person who will be greatly missed. For my brother, David's 50th birthday, I did a painting entitled 'David's Journey' using Muffin the Mule characters to represent each member of the family. For Kari I chose the hippopotamous, although I quickly explained that the hippo was the symbol of the great earth mother and I hoped she would see it as an honour. Ofcourse, Kari had a wicked sense of humour and although she would pretend to be insulted, I knew she didn't give a damn. In my latest painting ' Snow Angels and No Angels' , Kari is represented by a Corn Dolly, another symbol of motherhood , which I hoped she liked better. As a family, I suspect that is what we will miss most, her strong motherly feelings to all of us.