In 2013 I bought a bankrupt launderette and over the years I renovated it and turned it into an art studio.
In 2013.....
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| empty launderette complete with washer-driers! |
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| the new shop |
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| the washer-driers went to glastonbury and began a new life on the festival circuit |
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| pulling down the false ceiling revealed a lot of artex |
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| removing layers of plaster and fibreboard to allow the walls to breathe |
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| dismantling the under stairs cupboard revealed a hidden gem.... |
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| ...... a completely blocked up fire place! |
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| it was dark and very sooty.... |
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| I removed a huge pile of granite and 55 bags of sooty soil - but so exciting! |
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| I had my first open studio in a tidied building site with candle light. Mostly all I had to show was the studio! |
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| sadly the smoke bomb filled the room showing the chimney was blocked off |
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| I found a curious collection of items from the past |
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| my friend minko had a candle lit gig with 40 candles - it was hot. |
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| she performed in her shed |
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| christmas window display |
In 2014.....
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| I removed a rotten window shelf and found there was just earth underneath! |
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| so i planted a garden |
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| the wall was damp and had to be cut away and a damp-proof membrane was added |
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| re-inforced, insulated and boarded above the alleyway for use as storage |
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| concreted the indoor garden |
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| a strong man lifted the incredibly heavy beachcombed driftwood beam into place |
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| I moved my studio things in, though it was still a building site! |
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| a new wall was built on top of the old |
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| I had a sale |
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| and got rid of lots of stuff! |
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| I took part in open studios 2014 |
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| made friends with the hares |
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| and began the long task of re-pointing the wall with lime |
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| I only had one temporary socket so worked by spot light |
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| christmas window lit from behind |
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| I finally finished the re-pointing after months! |
In 2015.....
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| insulating and boarding the stairs |
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| very heavy fermacell wall boards |
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| filling in the gaps with wool wood board and lime render |
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| I really enjoyed this |
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| sorting out the ceiling was a nightmare |
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| dust found its way into every nook and cranny |
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| at last.....day light |
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| the mystery of the missing chimney was solved |
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| amazing view from neighbour's roof |
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| Open Studios 2015 |
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| more civilised but not much time to make work... french shutters in place |
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| I managed to sell most of my paintings |
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a stone excavated from the fire place thought to be from Glasney
and an ink well found in the indoor garden
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| the chimney was built in haste before the neighbour's scaffolding came down |
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| Bruce hard at work on the chimney |
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| Chimney complete and fully lined |
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| tackling the paint work on the shop front |
In 2016......
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| My friend set up a pop up shop for the kemeneth festival |
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| samba! |
In 2017....
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| fire-retardant plasterboard with help from uncle, cousin and friends - heavy! |
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| beginning the scraping and sanding... and wrist injury. the bluest of skies! |
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| first artist in residence preparing for gcse art |
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| walls and ceiling plastered |
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| beams limed..... cupboards awaiting bottoms |
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| loving the french shutters and reclaimed oak windows |
In 2019......
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| Josie moved in and painted the shop front |
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| she set up a hairdressing, textiles and vintage clothes shop |
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| the wood burner was fitted |
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| not just one but two fireplaces.... |
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| looking down to the toilet |
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| driftwood beam above toilet door |
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| view from door to left- hand side |
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| view from door to right-hand side |
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| view from centre |
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| view from door - central |
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| view from door to left-hand side |
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| looking out to street |
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| right-hand side |
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| view from kitchen |
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| shop window |
