Kate Higginson

The Stuff She loves

Kate Higginson lives in Hackney with her husband and two sons, in a glorious townhouse that is currently being renovated.

Kate and her husband, Fred, run Print Club London, an online art gallery with studios in East London.

We’re huge fans of what Kate and Fred do, so caught up with Kate to ask her about the stuff she loves.

What’s the best place that you’ve visited and what did you love about it?

We travel a lot when we can but our best trip was driving through France and Italy with our sons, and we drove all the way to Venice. I’m lucky that I’ve been to Venice many times but I really wanted my sons to experience its wonder. I think it’s my favourite place in the world; there’s something so magical about it that just can’t be explained. My sons, thankfully, were mesmerised. I try to go for the Biennale when I can, so let’s hope that happens soon. I think October is, in my opinion, the best time to visit Venice. The weather is still mild, the canals are misty and, crucially, there are no tourists.

If a push comes to a shove, what’s your favourite album of all time?

Anything by Tina Turner. The music reminds me of my childhood and car rides with my Dad through the Spanish mountains. I still have a cassette tape with his favourite mix on it.

And your favourite book?

I'm awful at reading because it sends me to sleep. I've been in two book clubs and I’ve still not managed to read a single thing…

Oh, and what work of art do you love above all others?

A sculpture that I own by my mother-in-law and sculptor Margaret Higginson. It's a bronze figure of dancer Josephine Baker which she gave me for my 30th birthday. We went to the forge together to choose the patina and I adore her.

I also have a very treasured painting of my husbands’ great grandmother, Charlotte, which I love equally. Female figurative work is a passion of mine and these are especially precious.

Do you believe in a god?

I believe in all gods, for which my friends laugh at me. I take a little bit from each religion that inspires me and kind of merge them into my own religion. It works for me.

Do you have a route that you walk or run that’s particularly special to you?

My parents have a house in the Spanish mountains and there’s a walk from their house, across the hillside, to a small bar. The views are incredible and I always think it feels very much like you are on the surface of the earth before it was built upon. Like the view from space of the land, it feels very simple and grounded.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure (or at least the guiltiest pleasure that you’re prepared to tell us about)?

Chanel shoes, but don't tell my husband. They personify timeless elegance. 

What possession, more than any other, means the most to you?

My engagement ring. I’m very lucky because my husband buys me beautiful jewellery; he has a great eye and I always love the pieces he buys me. My parents actually bought me an antique jewellery box for my 40th birthday to house my treasured stash of jewels.

What’s your favourite word?

Strong.

Cheese or pudding?

Pudding.

Wine or water?

Water. I’m not great with alcohol, and am often the first one to hit the herbal tea. 

What’s the best thing about Sundays?

Morning swims and breakfast. We use Shoreditch House and go down at 8am to swim with the boys. The view of the city from the pool is like no other. As a born and bred Londoner, I really want my sons to appreciate the wonder of living in the city.  

Who is your hero?

My dad. He started life living on a council estate in south London. He was a baker, a builder and a diamond cutter in Hatton Garden. He’s a jack of many trades and he’s built himself an incredibly successful business off the back of all these experiences. I’m always inspired by his entrepreneurial character and I speak to him most days for advice.