BUSINESS PROFILE WITH THE DONEGAL ARTIST FIONA HIGGINS
Donegaldaily.com: What is your career and what do you do?
Fiona: I am an artist working in batik on silk and oil on canvas, I do paintings of the Donegal landscape.
Donegaldaily.com:Tell us about your first job and how much were you paid?
Fiona: In 1993, I was an art teacher in a secondary school in Northern Ireland, I was paid £10 an hour.
Donegaldaily.com:What was your first success in business?
Fiona: My solo exhibition in Lincoln, England.
Donegaldaily.com:Name the one local or international business person you look up to?
Fiona: Joe Mangan, of Mangan Tours.
Donegaldaily.com:What has been your biggest mistake in business?
Fiona: Not researching before I bought equipment.
Donegaldaily.com:What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever been given?
Fiona: When something goes wrong put it down to experience and move on.
Donegaldaily.com: What advice would you give to someone starting out in business today?
Fiona: Believe in what you are doing, don’t give up, Market your business, don’t be the best kept secret.
Donegaldaily.com:What one item would you take with you to a desert island and why?
Fiona: Camera, The landscape always changes, if I saw a sunset I would want to capture it, the next one would never be the same.
Donegaldaily.com: What item can you not do without?
Fiona: Camera
Donegaldaily.com: What item would you prefer to do without?
Fiona: Television
Donegaldaily.com: What do you do in your spare time (if you have any)?
Fiona: Make quilts, bake
Donegaldaily.com: When will you retire?
Fiona: Will probably always paint.
Donegaldaily.com: What’s your tip to surviving the recession?
Fiona: Change to meet peoples needs, good service will always keep a customer, be honest.
Donegaldaily.com: What one thing would you do if you were Finance Minister to help business?
Fiona: Encourage people to spend money if they can afford it, try to get rid of the fear in the country.
