UP CLOSE: We talk to Godalming Art Shop owner Emma Sheen

Godalming Nub News aims to be supportive of every element of the community, from business and shops to people and charities, clubs and sports organisations.

Our regular UP CLOSE feature profiles some of the clubs, businesses, groups and people who make Godalming such a great town in which to live.

A splash of colour in Bridge Street: Godalming Art Shop is another business that has stood the test of time in our town centre.

The shop is run by Emma Sheen, who took over three years ago from the former owners, who in turn had run the business for about 20 years before her.

"We have a good loyal customer base," Emma told Nub News.

And they're not just locals: "People do travel quite a way to come to us."

The shop sells everything the artist could desire: paint, pens and pencils, brushes and paper, mounts, canvases, easels, craft supplies, cards, art books, sketching pads. There is also a selection of ready-made frames.

"I am a jeweller by trade and started working here part-time, 14 years before I took over," Emma says.

"When the previous owners put the business up for sale on their retirement, I stepped in."

The previous owner, Charlotte Albrecht, still works at the shop two days a week, and some of her artworks are also on sale.

Of course when lockdown hit, Emma, in common with businesses across the country, had to adapt in order to help her business to survive.

She set up a click and collect system for some of her regular customers, helping to ensure they got their art and craft supplies at a time when they have possibly never been in greater demand.

She reopened her doors on June 15th, and, she says, business has pretty much got back to normal.

"Apart from the masks and the floor markings it's like a normal day, which is great," she said.

"We can't do a one-way system, because of the shop layout, so we're only allowing three people in at any one time. As long as you can see where everyone is it's quite easy going!"

The Godalming Art Shop is at 45 Bridge Street, and is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.