22 January 2015

Northfield artist puts her skills in Selfridges' shop window

A NORTHFIELD woman has been selected from hundreds of entrants to front Selfridges’ ‘Bright Old Things’ campaign.

Sally Peplow, 53, was chosen to be part of the drive which champions creatives who have bucked retirement in favour of a second career.

Sally, a teaching assistant turned textile artist, has now taken over some of the Birmingham store’s newly-installed 360 degree windows.

After dedicating most of their lives to a single career Sally decided to throw caution to the wind and pursue her passion.

Sally, who worked in a Birmingham schools for 18 years, opted to embark upon a course in fine art textiles and then a degree at Birmingham City University after realising spectacular school displays were just the tip of the iceberg of her creative potential.

Sally’s work is displayed on the store’s almost four-metre tall and eight-metre-wide curved glass window at the main entrance on level three.

Sally said she was over the moon with her window and it was absolutely what she wanted it to be fun, exciting and vibrant.

“I’m so proud of it and feel extremely grateful – I’m just a mature student from Birmingham and now I’ve been gifted this incredible opportunity,”she added.

“It’s a real moment for me.”

Ruth Harris, Selfridges’ general manager, said Sally was a hugely inspiring woman.

She added it took guts to change career no matter what age but she had proved age was nothing but a number.

“She’s found her calling later in life, and we’re only too pleased to give her the stage they deserve to showcase her fantastic and unique creative curiosities,” Ruth said.

“ We urge people to come and see our new store windows – they are truly beautiful works of art.”

Reprinted by kind permission of The Bromsgrove Standard