A popular art shop in Petersfield marked a significant milestone in the run up to the festive season.

Sage and Salt Studio celebrated its first anniversary after launching on December 2, 2023.

It has been a big year for owner Sarah-Jane Beacher, winning Best New Business at the Petersfield Awards and a Muddy Stiletto Award for the Best Arts, Culture and Theatre Business in Hampshire.

The school teacher began her art journey in 2021 by collecting sea glass and shells and turning them into artwork.

Sarah said: “It was an activity I sat down and did with my two children and I really enjoyed it and got into it more and more. Then I started selling my artwork online at first and then through places.

“I thought Petersfield would be the perfect place for this sort of business and for artists in the area to be able to sell their work.

“I also wanted it to be also where the community can come together and do workshops as well, because I was running workshops for my own artwork. I was brave and decided to put a business plan together and started seeking out different properties.”

Sarah added that she stills get people who haven’t been into the shop before and get amazed by what's on offer and praised how welcoming the community has been. The Studio even had a Christmas pop-up at the back of the store which was an instant hit with locals and visitors.

Thanks to the business, artists in Petersfield and the surrounding areas have been thriving and Sarah has held networking events to help them build connections and reach a wider audience.

She added: “The first year has been amazing and it's only going to get better.”

Sarah says to stay tuned as she has plans for the shop in the New Year.