Liverpool’s Gemma Longworth, artist, designer, star of Channel Four's 'Find It, Fix It, Flog It’ all-round upcycling, restoration guru, has been unveiled as the special guest speaker for the launch of Business Connect - new in-person networking from FSB and BNI Merseyside.
In addition to wowing TV audiences with amazing transformations for 12 years, Gemma has been delivering a range of creative workshops for education, corporate events, entertainment, private celebrations in and around Liverpool.
She is currently helping revamp the 19th century Sir Thomas Hotel. FSB Merseyside and Cheshire grabbed a rare quiet moment to find out all about Gemma’s journey, which has recently seen her focus on art as a therapeutic tool, with workshops exploring the positive benefits art has on mental health.
“I turn negatives into positives!” said Gemma. “Whether that’s a tired piece of furniture, a boring beige wall or a mental health problem, I try to improve and transform it, creating something beautiful.”
Gemma’s passion for upcycling is echoed in how she approaches her business. Becoming self-employed was a step into the unknown, but a combination of determination and a sheer love of the work has seen her though – along with the courage to seek support.
“It was all a challenge at first. I had a lot of hurdles to overcome – you don’t know what you don’t know, and I didn’t know about business plans or finance or anything like that,” she said. “I persevered, got a lot of support, with passion and love, my business grew.”
Gemma began delivering Interior Design, DIY and Upcycling courses at her local women’s only college, Blackburne House. The popularity of her creative workshops led Gemma to build her own business, The Button Boutique, providing workshops in sewing, painting, drawing, knitting, and upcycling to schools, nursing homes and corporate organisations.
Then Channel Four came calling. In the show, seven series down the line has become a staple of UK daytime television, the presenters travel across the UK to find unique items lost in people's homes to fix up for a profit. That’s where Gemma comes in. She said: “It has helped massively and has been a great marketing tool. People know of me and I’m able to tell my story.”
“It can be quite difficult balancing business with filming. I went from concentrating on running my business full time to holding workshops, whilst having to be in the studio every day – and I physically do most of the work!”
We’re sure her co-star, Simon O’Brien, couldn’t possibly argue with that! Gemma’s on-screen affinity with the Brookside legend is well-known. Recently she has taken on the role of presenter, searching for hidden treasures alongside Henry Cole.
“The producers have an idea of what they want and what they’re looking for but myself and Simon are scousers and we have that natural rapport – we just bounce off each other,” she said. “In the last series I was offered the position of presenter. I got to work with Henry, and it was just the same with him.”
Realising early the power and healing potential that art can have on mental health, Gemma’s own abilities and enthusiasm evolved in childhood following the tragic death of her younger brother, himself a talented artist.
Her career has included bringing her Art as Therapy workshops to local children’s hospital Alder Hey. Here, she worked with children creatively using art as a form of distraction, entertainment, therapy, and self-expression. During her time at the hospital, Gemma was commissioned to work alongside the bereavement services to produce resources for children to work through the stages of bereavement in a creative and positive way.
Using the pleasure of art to build resilience and better mental health, positivity, seizing the day, forging her own way forwards–life lessons that Gemma has applied to her business.
“You’ve got to be bold and not be afraid. Before I went on TV, I didn’t realise that everyone had an opinion – now I know they do! I take those opinions on board, but I don’t let them dictate what I want to do, particularly in a male-dominated industry. I’m never going to be able to please everyone so I will just please myself!”