Artists struggle with shop crash closure - owner
BBCAn Oswestry shop owner has said it will be a struggle to find somewhere for local artists to go while the shop is closed after a car crashed into the storefront 10 days ago.
TJ Shotton, who owns the collaborative art shop Under One Roof on Leg Street, said the shock had not set in and that sweeping up the remains of his shop and stock was "heartbreaking".
The shop window has remained boarded up since a grey VW Tiguan hit it just after 23:00 BST on 28 April. West Mercia Police has said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Mr Shotton said all of the artists who had stock at the shop were aware of the crash and the damage.
Under One Roof opened on 4 November 2020, one day before England's second Covid lockdown, and helps sell work from more than 60 local artists and creatives.
Mr Shotton said some of the artists lost all of their stock in the crash, while others that had been set to join are no longer able to.
"Bestsellers like Annie [Morgan], she was in the window, she lost all of her stained glass," he said.
"It's part of our duty to sell these items for the artists and they've got nothing left to sell, and it's their hard work destroyed.
"The idea of the shop is to put them out on the high street and give them an opportunity, instead of taking on their own shop space."
Despite the damage, Mr Shotton said all the artists had been supportive.
"If we're closed for ages, they're not going to have anywhere to input their art. It will be a struggle to find somewhere for local artists to go while we're closed," he added.
"[And] we're still paying for a shop that you can't access through the front door, because there is no front door."
Mr Shotton said he did not know how long the repairs would take but that Under One Roof would be back.
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