John Tait of Lazy Grace

It was such an immense pleasure getting to know the managing director of Lazy Grace, John Tait. It was exciting to visit him The Granary, at New Town, where his business is based. This was back in June, 2019! John was one of the first Coquetdale Creatives I had the pleasure to talk with. The interview first appeared in the Northumberland Gazette, and a shortened version in Over the Bridges.
On his website, we discover that Lazy Grace is a web and graphic design agency situated in the hills of Northumberland. Established for over 20 years with a relentless commitment to helping our clients' businesses to grow.

Although born in the West End of Newcastle, John Tait is thoroughly 'Northumbrian'. As a young lad, he would regularly escape the city for freedom and space of Coquetdale. He felt the pull of the landscape and loved the wildlife.

So, after leaving school he headed for Barrowburn where he learned shepherding. Later attending Kirkley Hall, he qualified with a National Diploma in Agriculture

His great love of the land and its creatures influenced where he and his wife, Nicola, have chosen to make their home: a smallholding in Elsdon. This is where he is happiest, planting trees, building ponds, and 'fiddling on'.

Since 1998, however, John's working life has revolved around the creative design agency he started. 'Lazy Grace' has grown into a very successful business. They have an impressive clientele: 'We are privileged to work with some inspirational artists and businesses who show just what is possible when talent is combined with determination”.

A natural storyteller, John has always drawn, sketched, and written. In his younger days he wrote for Viz and designed and wrote graphic and comic books. When his children were small, and Nicola was the main wage-earner, John taught himself Photoshop, which made much more possible.

John got into website creation when only two other people were doing this in Coquetdale. He founded his business, then called Just The Donkeys, Which later became 'JTD Design', which later segued into the more mature, reflective, and thoughtful design company which certainly does operate with a special kind of lazy grace.

An entrepreneurial spirit is apparent throughout John's career. For a time, as a youngster, he was buying old classic cars from a place in Lincolnshire, transporting them to the North East, and selling them for an easy profit to those seeking out restoration projects.

Always, though, John has felt the influence of Coquetdale - its landscape, fauna, and flora, and the unique links to an ancient past. He says 'Northumberland - it's very deep, very slow. It takes years and years to get to really 'know'. I feel very connected - this is my true home'.

A completely self-taught creative, John Tait is an energetic, charismatic, entrepreneurial multi-talented man who has generated a flourishing business from scratch, here in his beloved home of Coquetdale.

Since this article was written, Lazy Grace has an even more impressive list of clients, which includes Ad Gefrin, Alnwick Castle, the NHS, Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Historic Churches Trust, Glendale Engineering, and many, many more.