10 Questions: Laura Cramer

Laura Cramer has created not one but two sculptures for the Shaun in the City trail. The first is Lily on Lower Castle Street; the second is Shear-lock Holmes in Bristol South Swimming Baths.  

Laura lives and works in Bristol as a full time painter, known for her colourful semi abstract cityscapes. 

Her Shaun paintings add to her list of gorilla and Gromit sculptures from previous Bristol trails. 

1. What was your earliest ambition? 

I grew up on the quiet, unspoilt coastline of southern Ireland and from my back garden I could see the passenger ferries from the UK and France on the horizon as they prepared to dock at the nearby port of Rosslare.  As much as I loved the beach paradise I was growing up in, I longed one day to be on one of those ferries and be taken somewhere far, far away, for lots of adventures. 

2. If you were mayor of Bristol for the day, what would you do? 

I would have large screens set up in parks to run foreign films all day. Classics like Cinema Paradiso, Babette’s Feast and Jean de Florette will feature, but any other great foreign film recommended by others will also be available. I will declare it a non-work day for all. Chunky chips and garlic mayonnaise will be complimentary, but you can bring your own popcorn if you want. 

3. What is your proudest memory? 

 Probably passing my Russian language exam that I sat when living in Copenhagen. The extra challenge was that I had to take the exam in Danish, as it was a Danish University. Luckily I had learned Danish the year before, which enabled me to study at university, but it was a real struggle, and one that I can’t quite believe I did. 

4. What is the greatest achievement of your life so far? 

I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but my immediate answer would be raising my two amazing children who are now 14 and 12 years old. Seeing life through their eyes is fascinating, and finding yourself in the company of two emerging adults with their own interests and passions is not only rewarding but very inspirational. 

5. What’s your biggest extravagance? 

Food. Definitely food. We hardly ever eat out in restaurants, so my husband and I cook a lot at home and our grocery bills could be smaller! I have a particular soft spot for flash fried Patagonian scallops in garlic and butter served with lemon juice and baguette. You know the expression “champagne tastes but lemonade budget”? That applies to me, but I’m always on the lookout for a deal!  My Yorkshire grandmother apparently used to say, “you don’t need to be a millionaire, you just need to know how to live like one”. 

6. What ambitions do you still have? 

Hard to choose one, but I would love to travel west to east across the USA, creating paintings along the way, and having an exhibition of those works in New York. 

7. How physically fit are you? 

Quite fit. I try and lane swim twice a week, and I find pilates keeps me out of trouble after prolonged spells at the canvas. I would like to take up running at some point though. 

8. Where is your favourite holiday destination? 

I can’t say I have a favourite, as I always want to go somewhere new each time.  I do however love Italy, and plan on learning Italian to really get the most out of future visits. 

9. Can you sum up Bristol in a sentence? 

A multicultural city with heart, and one I feel proud to be raising my children in. 

10. What is your favourite secret spot in Bristol? 

I would have to say it’s the goats in the gully – off the Downs by the Avon Gorge. A small herd of goats has been introduced to control the scrub re-growth and help encourage rare grasses and wild flowers to re-establish. It’s a lovely quiet spot, and sometimes you have to really look hard to see the goats grazing the rocky terrain. It’s also got an interesting elevated view of the Portway which I would love to paint one day. 

Photo by Sarah Newey