Home

Esperance artist Louise Stewart Brown to chart new course after shutting up shop

Indiana LysaghtKalgoorlie Miner
Splash Out owner and local artist Louise Stewart Brown.
Camera IconSplash Out owner and local artist Louise Stewart Brown. Credit: Picture: Indiana Lysaght, Indiana Lysaght/Kal Miner

After five years of fighting tourists’ tightening purse strings, an Esperance artist will close the door on her retail store.

Since 2002, Splash Out has showcased the work of Louise Stewart Brown, an artist and sculptor who has lived in the town since childhood.

Mrs Brown said support in the early years was “fantastic” but disposable income since the GFC has been hard to come by.

“Those tourists are coming through, loving what I am doing but not spending, obviously they don’t have a disposable income that once existed,” she said. “It has been a very noticeable slow decline over the last five years.”

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

On top of tight tourist dollars, online shopping has sucked in local spending, Mrs Brown said.

“There was a campaign not so long ago, spend $10 in a locally owned business once a week.

“If people stuck to that, it would make a huge difference.”

Mrs Brown said once stock had cleared she will be officially retired, but that is not going to slow her down.

“I have retired but I am certainly not going to retire from being creative — that is my life and my passion,” she said.

“My journey will continue.

“I will certainly not stop creating and I won’t stop being a part of the Esperance community.”

Mrs Brown’s next business venture is in the pipeline.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails