From Home Studio to Galleries Across the North
Lucy opened her first gallery 10 years ago. What began as a small studio at home in North Yorkshire has grown into a multi-million pound, award-winning business with seven galleries, an outlet, and an online store.
How it Began.
After studying Graphic Design at Northumbria University, Lucy worked as a designer and lecturer. She later chose to pursue art full-time.
Her early work was inspired by the Yorkshire countryside, its landscapes, skies, and animals. Working from her home studio, she began creating and selling prints locally. As a result, she soon opened her first gallery just around the corner in Brompton-on-Swale.
The first gallery allowed customers to see the artwork in person. It marked the beginning of the journey. The same site is now the Outlet store, offering end-of-line gifts, homeware, stationery, and framed prints with small imperfections.
From One Gallery to Seven
The success of the first gallery led to further openings across the North of England. Over the years, the business has expanded into Richmond, Yarm, York, Harrogate, Keswick, Bowness-on-Windermere and, most recently, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Each gallery showcases artwork, homeware, stationery, and gifts. Visitors can also meet the gallery teams. Meanwhile, online, the business continues to grow, offering mounted and framed prints, canvases, and merchandise through its online store.
Awards and Achievements
As the business grew, so did its recognition. Over the past decade, Lucy and the team have earned several awards, including:
– UK’s Most Popular Published Artist, Fine Art Trade Guild, 2018, 2019, and 2022
– Growth Award 2024, North East Business Awards
– Tees Business Women of the Year 2025, North East Business Awards
– Creative Business of the Year 2025, Business IQ Awards
– Best Art Website of the Year, Fine Art Trade Guild
Original pastel artworks are now highly sought after and often sell for five-figure sums.
Giving Back
Supporting charities has become a key part of the business plan. Over the years, Lucy and the team have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities. These have included the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), Mind, NHS Charities and The Starlight Children’s Foundation plus, many more.
In addition to donating artwork, the business continues to host fundraising events and support community causes.
Planting Trees for Every Art Sold
In 2023, the business began a new environmental initiative inspired by Lucy’s ‘Sycamore Gap’ and ‘Tree of Hope‘ artworks, a commitment to plant a tree for every piece of art sold.
Since then, the programme has expanded to include every print across Lucy’s collection. More than 1,000 trees have been planted at The Swinton Estate, and over 300 saplings with the National Trust. In addition, ongoing planting projects with Elysium Healthcare and veritree continue to support tree planting in the UK and overseas.
Each tree planted represents a link between art and the natural world. As the programme grows, so does its impact.
The Team Behind the Brand
Today, the business employs 65 people across the galleries, head office, and Yorkshire Framing Services. Every print and frame is produced in-house to ensure consistent quality from start to finish.
Looking to the Future
New artwork collections, gallery developments, and community projects are already underway. The first ten years have built strong foundations. Now, the business will build on them.
To mark this milestone, Lucy Pittaway Ltd has launched a 10th Anniversary Golden Ticket Competition. Ten winners will receive £1,000 each to spend on artwork. It’s a simple thank you to everyone who has supported the journey so far.
Finally, you can explore the latest collections and find details of the Golden Ticket competition here: https://www.lucypittaway.co.uk/artwork
