Jersey artist 'desperate' for new studio after Holme Grown closure

Wednesday, 22 July 2026 12:12

By Harry Booth

The closure of Holme Grown in Jersey means a local teacher and artist is desperately searching for a new studio.

David Henley has been using space at Holme Grown for the last 14 years, but the Grouville farm shop permanently closed last month.

He has been able to continue there since, but will move out at the end of this week when he finishes this term of teaching.

David said:

"It (Holme Grown) feels like home because I've been here for so long, and also, the man who owns the business at the farm shop, he and I were at school together, and we've known each other since we were about 11 years of age - it is very sad."

Since putting posts out on social media, islanders have been trying to find suitable venues.

David has visited two so far, but neither were suitable. He's preparing to view another option on Friday.

He added:

"I'm interested to look at anything, really. The room I'm in at the minute in Holme Grown measures 20 feet by 30 feet, it's a fair size, but it enables me to do the teaching as well.

"If I can't find that, and I was offered something much smaller which would enable me to paint in there on my own, I would certainly accept that as well and then I could quite easily, as I've done in the past, rent a church hall or a parish hall.

"The nice thing with having people come to work in my studio is that at the end of the day, their oil paintings, which are sopping wet, they can leave them here to dry, whereas if I'm renting a church hall or parish hall, they can't do that."