MY LUDLOW LIFE — Issue №2

Lucy
Lucy
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

Ludlow is a town of small businesses. Behind the Jacobean and Georgian facades, down the scenic streets and cobbled alleyways, thrives a community of talented creatives. They are artists, writers, potters, chefs, restaurateurs, jewellery designers, book binders, beauticians and florists and they are Ludlow’s beating heart. If anyone can tell you about the ins and outs of our buzzing town, it’s the people who work here.

This is week, we interview local Ludlow Artist, Andy Nash and Ludlow writer, Sandra Shields — Partners at Andy Nash Art in Pepper Lane.


St. Laurence’s Church, Ludlow copyright Andy Nash

What’s your connection to Ludlow?

  1. Are you an incomer (fell in love on a visit)
  2. Returner (grew up here, went away, glad to be back)
  3. Have never left the shire (why go anywhere else?)

We are incomers, having moved up here in August 2015 from Surrey to begin our art business in our little 15th-century shop in Pepper Lane. Andy is originally from Wolverhampton and I’m from Upper Norwood, South London. As soon as we found Ludlow, we knew it was the perfect spot for art and creativity.

Finish the sentence: Living in and around Ludlow is the bees knees because…

It’s a beautiful small town where it’s easy to make friends, and you always get that sense of being immersed in the medieval, that you’re becoming part of that history, creating new art interpretations of ancient scenes and buildings — leaving your mark.

Pepper House Studio, Pepper Lane, Ludlow

Tell us something about Ludlow that no one else knows

Probably everything to know about Ludlow is already known. There are no secrets here!

Your favourite haunt and why?

We like to sit on the benches just outside of the castle at 5pm when the town goes super quiet. It’s a great place to chat about ideas for our art and writing, and to generally people watch. The river by Dinham Bridge (Millennium Green) is another lovely spot.

Ludlow Brewery copyright Andy Nash

What would your perfect day in Ludlow look like?

A picnic on a summer’s day up on Whitcliffe Common, which has incredible views over the town, followed by a drink in one of the pubs — probably The Wheatsheaf or The Charlton Arms.

Finally, your recommends: your top spot to eat, drink or visit in the area?

We like to sit in the sumptuous armchairs by the fireplace, with a nice drink in hand, in the incredible James I lounge on the first floor of The Feathers hotel. Or simply to sit in the gorgeous lounge of Dinham Hall Hotel, which has been on our wishlist for a while, and which we are finally going to do this week! It’s a beautiful space, teeming with character.

The Artist in his studio

Bio

Andy was born in Wolverhampton in 1964 and spent his early years in the village of Essington on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. The nagging desire to produce artwork and follow his own path persisted and at age 51 he made the decision, with his partner, Sandra to take the plunge and open a working art studio — they searched for the best location to set up their project, and discovered the beautiful medieval market town of Ludlow, which would provide an endless source of inspiration in its buildings and local landscapes.

www.andynashart.com

https://www.facebook.com/pepperhousestudio/

https://www.instagram.com/pepper_house_studio/

https://twitter.com/house_pepper

Lucy

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Lucy

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