Maison Marine

London born artist designer Jean Macdonald spent her teenage years collecting true vintage at the newly started Camden Market and any charity shop she would pass. In those days, the likes of Wayne Hemingway were selling from a market stall, and classic vintage items were of course much greater in number, and more easily available. She left school at 16 to attend her local technical college to study visual merchandising. After spending time in Paris and working for various retailers in London, she was accepted at Winchester School of Art to study Fine Art. Here, Jean worked a great deal with both still and moving image, and took a First with Honours in 1997. During this time she was commissioned by several private clients to paint furniture, and later went on to start her own business in London and then in Whitstable, Kent. That same summer she met designer Ray Harris and worked as his studio assistant. Her love of the projected image was implemented into several of her window displays in the West End of London that winter. It was the following year that she met Cath Kidston who had her first ever shop nearby, and who personally commissioned Jean to paint furniture for a private client. Whilst in Whitstable, her expertise brought her to be called on as a colour consultant for interiors, a subject very close to her heart. She also continued to produce photographs and video shorts of a socio-historical nature, and in 2004 was commissioned by Kent County Council to make an environmental information video. At the same time, with her vintage collections Jean also hosted several successful pop-ups - pre-pop-up era, and created her labels Vintage Seaside and Belle Epoque. An appreciation for good design and manufacture, and a hatred of waste led her to work on an idea to promote English manufacture as well as the use of pre-existing materials, and in 2007 the concept re-made in england was established, this concept stayed with her and was extended to all designer- makers no matter what their location, and has now been realised with the launch of teneleventwelve on 10th November 2012, and is her quest to promote a better standard of manufacture and a more pleasurable retail experience. On April 20th 2013 teneleventwelve grew up to become 13 Marine; a space where Jean actively promotes the concept of re-use, by stocking quality second hand pieces as well as working on her own designs, and showcasing selected designer-makers work.

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