A life of art: James and Sherile Down (Part 2)

In the October/November issue of Digital Image Magazine we featured part one of the tale of James (Bob) and Sherile (Shez) Down, summarising their earlier years, career and travels. Read on to follow the progress of this adventurous, talented and entrepreneurial couple from where we left off.

The couple began to focus on property in Perth, demolishing the family home, redesigning and rebuilding it and then purchasing a block on Buckland Hill, a new prestigious development in Mosman Park with sweeping views over the ocean. With the developer broke, Administrators sold it for $186,000 (although it was valued at $300,000), with a rebate of a $20,000 to anyone who built within 12 months. Bob and Shez worked night and day to complete the house, doing all the painting, lead lighting, tiling, landscaping and anything else they could to save money and meet the 12 month target, which they did with 11 days to spare.

Shez went to Bunnings’ lead lighting classes and put what she learned to great effect, while James did all the painting
and tiling.

Their family grew with the addition of baby Emily and before long the entrepreneurial couple sold this house and purchased a block at Rocky Bay in North Fremantle on the river front but back from the water. James designed the house from the ground up -  nail by nail, roof pitch, window types and sizing, air flow, the lot. Once designed, they appointed a builder but again they did all the works they could possibly do themselves.  Shez’s earlier training at Bunnings class meant her lead lighting skills could be used extensively on all their homes.

House number four was on a tiny block in Corkhill Street, North Fremantle and again James design the entire house to such a wonderful and creative level, the builder asked if he could use his design for his future builds.

Around this time James picked up a client who owned Liberty Liquor, and soon began to create some of the best chalkboard art I have seen, showcasing his early talent for fine art. So good were his designs that hotel chains were sending James around the State updating signage but in particular, his chalkboard art. It wasn’t long before you would recognise James’s exceptional skills when you walked into a hotel for a counter meal and see a James Down  chalkboard Menu.

Each house flip saw their money grow and the couple were soon making far more money from house flips than from signwriting. At this time, a clump of exclusive blocks went up for sale at a new estate. They were right on the river front, perched high on the Swan River escarpment with views to the east, looking up the slow curve as it meanders back toward Perth, and wonderful views to the west overlooking Fremantle and in the distant, Rottenest Island. As each block went up for sale, the couple bid without success, eventually securing the final bid.

Another magnificent abode was designed by James, which was flipped a short while later with the couple purchasing an old Federation style home in East Fremantle on a huge block. Renovated some 20 years earlier, it was in need of a tidy up. To these two, that meant a complete refit and extensions so James once again pulled out the pencils and rulers and set up drawing the plans for council approvals. After many weeks of drawing, all by hand, James presented the plans and elevations to the Shire who responded with: “Sorry mate, we can’t accept these drawings. They are works of art and should be hung on the wall.” James quickly recovered after firstly assuming he was being told his drawings weren’t competent, to feeling rather proud of himself.

In James’s spare time, he created his own beautiful paintings to decorate the house and when it came time to sell, he received as many compliments on his paintings as the house itself. Naturally the house sold quickly with another massive profit and the couple purchased another block of land on the river front at Cyprus Hill, with James creating a Balinese designed home that offered vistas to capture the stunning river front location. Rustic timbers, ponds and statues rather than polished marble and tinted glass, this home retained a regal beauty of its own and made a large and attractive statement  in the street.

It was during this time that Fremantle Dockers secured fiery recruit Trent Croad in 2001 and as would any young kid with pockets full of cash, wanted a lifestyle to match. Trent, along with a trusted Real Estate Agent stopped outside James and Shez’s home and enquired about the cost, coaxing the agent to ask the owners if they would be interested in selling. James, with a six week old beard, was dressed in paint splattered shorts and a similarly dirty shirt and thongs. Exhausted from lack of sleep and band-aids on his fingers from splinters and scrapes, he looked anything but a multi-millionaire home owner.

After recovering from the shock that James was the owner, the agent enquired whether it was for sale. “Bloody hell, James responded, we haven’t even finished painting it yet!” Nevertheless, they were offered $1,000,000 over their cost price and and James completed the final touches once Trent had moved in, avoiding the multitude of bikini clad girls and endless parties.

James’s fine artwork was progressing very nicely and had become his passion, and he wanted more time to enjoy it. So many years earlier than planned, the couple moved to Broom, and purchased a large 1,000m2 block in Broome and James set about designing their dream home of 860m2 – a Broome style Balinese influenced indoor-outdoor living abode.

It was so stunning that James was asked by friends to design their house, which he did, and it won ‘Best House in the Kimberley’ at the house building awards in Perth.

To fulfil James’ passion for fine art, the couple purchased the renowned Monsoon Gallery in Broom. Although struggling, it was a great vehicle for James to sell his artwork while building the turnover with existing artists. Within 18 months the turnover had tripled but the couple decided to sell it to pursue a more relaxed lifestyle.

With a five year restraint of trade, James went on to do bits and pieces and Shez took on a position at Bunnings, soon helping her team achieve best performing Bunnings trade desk in WA (second only to Midland) and winning the ‘Best Customer Service Person in WA’ award.

After the restraint James opened a small gallery in Cable Beach and is doing very well despite some hiccups along the way with partnerships that had gone south, resulting in the couple having to buy out their estranged colleagues to gain back their independence. The 860m2 home had to go and the pair then renovated their clutch of three shops in Carnarvon Street, the ‘Burke Street’ of Broome, including an old fire damaged remnant of an apartment upstairs which they have turned into their ‘now’  new home.

Shez is not only a gifted businesswoman but a passionate animal lover and campaigner. The couple adopted lost dog Oscar who to this day, in his ageing years, sleeps on a counter at the gallery and is much loved and photographed by visitors. Shez works in the gallery full time and her business prowess is focused on turning James’ well-known art into more commercially acceptably priced prints, tea towels, stubby holders, bottle coolers and an abundance of other tourist friendly teasers. All the works produced are printed and framed by the couple in house.

I have met many people over the years in this wonderful and creative industry. Some who could copy anything and make it photo like, some with the most beautiful lettering skills. Others with design skills I envy to this day. But let me assure you, I have never met anyone with the talent of these two, coupled with a work ethic that would kill the average person whilst retaining a sense of humour to make a marble statue smile.

The crazy bogan-like kids are still in there somewhere but what you see today are two of the nicest people I have ever met and that I admire the most.

Written by Vernon Kingman

This article first appeared in the Dec issue of Digital Image Magazine