A SOLDIER has put down his weapons and picked up the paintbrushes to open up an art supplies shop.
After Dalton man Dave Hayes’ 22-year army career came to an end he was left wondering what to do next.
The 44-year-old, who has served in Iraq, Bosnia and Ireland, told the Examiner: “I’ve got another 25 years of graft in me.
“But the problem is that I suffer from a chronic back injury so the options were limited as to what I could actually do.
“I’ve been doing part-time work over the last three years since I left the Army trying to sort out my second career – but every job I’ve done there’s been no future in it.
“As I’ve been a keen artist all my life I then thought why not do something with art, I’ve always loved art and I’ve dabbled in all mediums from painting to tattooing.”
Dave set up an online art supplies company and has now bought a shop on Leeds Road in Huddersfield which he has called Paint & ART.
From here he will sell all sorts of artists’ paints, brushes and supplies.
Dave, whose wife Pauline has a cleaning business, said: “I hate going to most art shops – they are so boring to be in – they may as well be selling spanners or tablecloths for what you get out of the shop.
“Artistic people by their very nature are creative and creative people like to be inspired.
“Pretty much every art shop I’ve been in has left me feeling anything but inspired.
“My vision is to create a space where artistic people can come and buy their products but at the same time be totally inspired.
“I want them to come and hang out and just be immersed in the whole experience of the shop, look at all the different things going on, talk about art, look at the different art on display and ask for advice on the products that they are looking to buy.”
Dave – whose 16-year-old son Daniel goes to Greenhead College and 18-year-old daughter Samantha is at university – plans to set up art classes and workshops at the York House venue on Leeds Road.
