Artist raps wait for sale cash

From the archive, first published Thursday 7th Dec 2006.

Artist Winifride Nichols thought it was a stroke of genius when she put on an exhibition at her local library - but instead she was left hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

The 72-year-old, of Cottingley, who struggles with heart and lung problems and diabetes, had been looking forward to making her exhibition debut at Shipley Library for a one-week run in mid-October.

But she said it turned out to be "one of the most miserable" experiences of her life.

Even though she managed to sell 16 out of her 67 paintings she had to wait almost two months to get her hands on the cash.

Mrs Nichols has a degree in art history and worked at Bradford College for 15 years as an art technician before she retired.

When she booked the showcase space at the library in Wellcroft she could either have paid £100 for the week or agree to let the library keep 25 per cent of everything she sold.

"I thought it would make life a lot easier if I let the library sell the paintings and take the cash but it hasn't worked out that way at all," she said. "I sold 16 paintings, which was a great success and meant I was due about £500.

"I called in to the library in person to ask for my money and made phone calls but I just got fobbed off with them telling me it's in the system and I'll have to wait."

Mrs Nichols, who has three grandchildren, also complained half of the lights were permanently out during her exhibition. "I've put on hundreds of exhibitions in my time for students at college so I know how it should be done properly and lighting plays a big part," she said.

Mrs Nichols has finally received the cheque but said she would not be recommending the library as an exhibition space to any of her artist friends.

Ian Watson, head of Bradford Council's libraries service, said it had done all it could to speed up the process to give Mrs Nichols the money owed to her. He said: "We apologise for any inconvenience."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths @bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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