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She’s a local illustrator and self-confessed designer of “aggressively detailed” bone china dinnerware, whose other-worldly designs have captured the likes of Vogue and ELLE magazine readers across the globe. But today, Abi Overland turns her creative hand to painting a picture of what her ideal Jersey would look like.
Here, she talks everything from Genuine Jersey to Finnish education…
The first thing I would change would be to make the high street more affordable for small businesses, at the moment it is near impossible for small businesses to make their way on to the high street with the astronomic rents and the length of some of the leases, pop up shops in empty spaces are always great and having more individual local shops (something akin to the 'lanes' in Brighton) would be great in attracting tourists and create a high street that isn't like every other high street in the UK.
I do however love what Genuine Jersey, and other local organisers do with the wonderful markets and events hosted throughout the year, Spice Festival and Simply Christmas in particular are so lovely and unique to Jersey.
It would be great if we could improve the cycle lanes to make them safer - something more akin to Amsterdam - and maybe employ a 'Boris bike' type system to encourage people to cycle instead of drive.
Pictured: Abi Overland's classy dinnerware creations. (Photo: Abi Overland)
When I was at school in Jersey it seemed the only career options and prospects available in the Island were to work in finance. This was and still is discouraging creatives from staying in the Island after university, as we have less creatives here starting up their own businesses this results in less opportunities in creative industries on the island. It would be great if we could create a more varied and exciting economy for the island that didn't rest predominantly on finance and this begins with encouraging graduates to come back to Jersey to pursue their creative ambitions. Being a working illustrator on island has not been a hindrance at all and if we could encourage a more diverse economy it would make for a unique and exciting island.
I love the idea of the Finnish education system that is consistently at the top of international rankings for education systems, where teachers are ranked the same as medicine and law and whereby the students have a more enjoyable and wholesome learning experience. There is no national testing, inspections or school league tables, where teachers are trusted to tailor the curriculum and learning to what they think to be appropriate rather than follow a rigid check list set down by the 'man' and where all students of all abilities sit in the same classroom as one another. How wonderful would it be if Jersey could have such a free and positive learning experience.
And lastly... I'd turn the fort into an indoor ski slope. Because that would be amazing.
Next week, its the turn of Cameron Elliott, Personal Trainer.
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