A Little Hallingbury-based outdoor art firm gained the backing of two business giants on BBC TV show Dragons’ Den.
YARDART UK, co-founded by mums Charlotte Clemence and Bex Lund in 2019, secured support from both Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett in the episode aired on Thursday night (April 4). The investment seen by viewers was for £50,000 for 35% of the business, dropping to 25% after a year if the stake is made back, although the final details are still being worked out following recording of the episode.
Viewers saw Charlotte and her husband Grant, who is also part of the company taking care of investor relations, demonstrate their product, which aims to transform ordinary garden walls into stunning works of art.
The pair showcased the current designs available on YARDART UK’s online portal and the idea of being able to take your personal art style from indoors to outdoors.
The company offers a diverse array of designs across its collections. The wall art, which is manufactured in Bishop’s Stortford and comes complete with a 3D illusion frame, is waterproof, UV resistant, windproof, fadeproof and durable.
With the ability to be mounted to fence panels, brick and concrete walls, they are suitable for every type and size of space, from a small balcony to mansion house garden.
The therapeutic nature of creating art was explored on the show via Charlotte’s family’s experience of child loss and the subsequent pledge to support a charity close to their hearts.
Charlotte and Grant have two girls: Sophia, who is soon to be 13, and Nancy, 7. The couple lost Sophia’s twin sister Fleur when she was just eight days old to a rare heart condition, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), which had been detected at Charlotte’s 20-week ante-natal scan.
They received much-needed support from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), and YARDART UK, which has an official affiliation with the hospice, has raised over £16,000 for various charities since it was formed.
“Going on Dragons’ Den was a daunting challenge to us as a small business,” said Charlotte.
“We were, however, truly inspired by what the dragons had to say and the conversations that were had regarding our art.
“We had so much positive feedback regarding the excellent quality of the printing and love for the boldness of what we do.
“To secure interest, such as we have from Sara and Steven, will mean that we can scale up the business and take it to a wider audience.
“The final initial investment seen on air was for £50,000 for 35% of the business, dropping to 25% after a year if the stake is made back. Things inevitably change though, post-filming, so budgets and percentages are still being worked out. We’re still in discussions with the dragons. Steven and Sara are still really supportive of us and what we are doing.
“We truly are a micro company, led by me and my co-founder Bex Lund. As two mums who have a passion for art, the garden and the unusual, it’s fantastic to know that the dragons and viewers have engaged with our story and share our unwavering love for alternative art, design and the great outdoors.”
Charlotte, 47, and Grant, 49, grew up in Buckinghamshire and Maldon respectively while 42-year-old Bex hails from Sawbridgeworth and attended Leventhorpe School.
Bex and her partner Lee have three children: 12-year-olds Kate and Frank and six-year-old Bonnie.
Charlotte enjoys getting on court at Bishop’s Stortford Lawn Tennis Club, going to the gym, walking their two rescue dogs and watching her girls do sports, including horse riding at Silver Leys Polo Club in Little Hadham.
Yoga teacher Bex and her family love to paddle board on the River Stort as well as enjoying bike rides and dog walks with their dachshund, Chip. Frank plays for Bishop’s Stortford Community Football Club, Kate rides horses at Brook Cottage Farm in Furneux Pelham and Bonnie loves to sing.
The YARDART UK range presented on Dragons’ Den by Charlotte and Grant will be available on its website and is currently being shown off on its stand at the Ideal Home Show until Sunday (April 7). The ‘Dragons’ Den Edit’ varies from modern to abstract, boho to heritage, and includes the artwork Rosa, a tribute to American civil rights activist Rosa Parks, illustrated by Charlotte herself.
To find out more about the business, visit yardartuk.co.uk. And you can still watch the firm’s pitch on Dragons’ Den (series 21, episode 14) on BBC iPlayer.