Shropshire MagazineArticles Archive - Shropshire Magazine

Sarah’s local art adds animal magic

MNA-Admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:29:52 +0000

Heather Large discovers how one artist transformed her hobby into a career creating whimsical watercolours inspired by wildlife and local landmarks.

Painting had always been just a hobby for Sarah Corkill until 2018 when she became a full-time artist. Now she is known for her whimsical watercolours of Shropshire featuring local landmarks and British wildlife.

“I’ve been painting since I was 14 but it was just a hobby. In 2018, I thought it would be nice to do it as a job – everybody dreams of earning money from their hobby.

“Before I started my art business in 2018, I had various jobs in retail and also worked at after-school clubs at primary schools doing art with children, and also offered one-to-one art tuition from my home,” says Sarah. For the first few years, she painted family and pet portraits from photographs before turning her attention to her hometown of Shrewsbury.

“In 2024, I painted the market square in Shrewsbury and it all started to take off,” explains the mother-of-three.

That year, she was one of eight women chosen to feature in The Shropshire Artisan Showcase which aimed to celebrate creativity and community spirit and took place at The Darwin Shopping Centre.

Each of her paintings begins with a visit to her chosen location where Sarah takes a number of photographs from different angles. Back home in her art room, she combines elements from each image to create a pencil drawing, adding in animals such as foxes, hedgehogs, mice and owls.

“I wanted to add animals to the scenes because it gives it some life and warmth,” says Sarah, who has also featured squirrels and pheasants.

“When I added my fox to my first Shrewsbury painting of the market square, everybody commented on how much they liked the fox, so now I always have a fox,” she adds.

After going over the lines in pen, she gets her watercolours out and gets to work. “When I finish the painting, I go over it in pen and coloured pencils,” says Sarah, who studied fine art at the University of Staffordshire.

One of her recent creations is a painting of Shrewsbury’s much-loved Dingle garden located within the heart of the Quarry park.

“I think a lot of people love the Dingle and have special memories there,” says Sarah, who took part in Shrewsbury Arts Trail in 2024.

“I like to do summer and winter versions of each painting. I love painting snowy scenes but it’s also nice to do summer scenes too,” she adds.

Her paintings of Shrewsbury include Shrewsbury Abbey, Wyle Cop, Welsh Bridge and St Chad’s Church. She has also produced watercolours of Bridgnorth Bridge and Chester.

She is also the author of The Shrewsbury Fox’s Great Adventure, which features her fox, who was named Furlin by her daughter, walking around the town centre.

The rhyming story which features a collection of her Shrewsbury paintings is suitable for adults and children and is designed to be a souvenir of the town.

Among the landmarks featured are St Chad’s Church, the statue of Charles Darwin outside Shrewsbury Library, Butcher Row and a gravestone for Ebenezer Scrooge that featured in the 1984 movie adaption of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring George C Scott.

“I wanted to be a book illustrator when I was young so I really enjoyed creating the book. I’m planning to do another book set in Bridgnorth, which will involve Furlin the fox getting on a train. Beatrix Potter is my absolute favourite, I also love Paddington Bear and Winnie The Pooh,” says Sarah.

As well as prints and greeting cards, her art has been transformed into calendars, coasters, jigsaws, tins, tote bags, tea towels and ornaments.

“My products are made locally in Hadnall,” says Sarah.

“The calendars were a big seller in the run-up to Christmas, I would also like to do a Bridgnorth calendar,” she adds.

Her art has travelled all over Shropshire as well as around the world to destinations including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and mainland Europe.

“It tends to be people that have moved away and are buying something to remind them of where they used to live or they want to show their grandchildren. My Shrewsbury Fox book was popular with grandparents who wanted to read it to their grandchildren, which is nice,” says Sarah.

Her biggest ambition is to have her own shop and the location on top of her wish-list is Shrewsbury Market Hall. “I love the vibe and the atmosphere there, it’s lovely,” she says.

For Sarah, who is planning to paint more scenes of Bridgnorth and Ludlow in the future, being a full-time artist is very rewarding.

“It’s absolutely lovely to get up in the morning and know I have a full day of painting and I’m getting paid to do it – it’s the dream really,” she says. “I go into my own world and think of a story about what the animals are up to.”

Sarah’s artwork is available from Toadstools in Bridgnorth and The Makery at Shrewsbury Market Hall.

Her limited edition giclée prints are available from the Art Framing shop in Mardol, Shrewsbury.

To see more of Sarah’s work, visit www.sarahcorkillart.co.uk, her Etsy shop sarahcorkillart.etsy.com and Facebook/Instagram – Sarah Corkill Art.

Festival to take town on trip back in time

MNA-Admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:36:12 +0000

Daniel Morris meets the organisers of Ludlow History Festival to find out what is on the cards for the exciting new event

American author Michael Crichton once said: “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”

While Crichton’s judgment was rather blunt, the value of knowing one’s history and that of the world around us cannot be understated.

In studying the past, we can gain insight into what the future may hold. Yet, more than anything, learning about history can be fun, and this summer the fascinating heritage of south Shropshire is set to be brought to life like never before.

Running from August 21-30, the inaugural Ludlow History Festival promises to take locals and visitors on a 10-day odyssey through some of our past’s most fascinating periods, all against the backdrop of one of the county’s most beautiful towns.

Set up and organised by Ludlow resident and town guide, Amana Winchester, with Jess Laurie, programming and marketing manager for Ludlow Assembly Rooms, the festival’s programme of events has been carefully crafted to offer something for everyone.

The festival is a dynamic, town-wide experience that will enable locals and visitors to appreciate Ludlow’s history through theatre, music, comedy, storytelling, guided walks, lectures and hands-on activities.

Audiences will encounter Ludlow’s amazing geology, medieval origins, its regal connections and the remarkable characters who left their mark on the region.

To start the proceedings with a Bridgerton-esque bang, Ludlow History Festival’s Regency Ball will take place in St Laurence’s Church on Friday, August 21.

“Guests will be served a welcome drink at Castle Lodge, and promenade through the town to the church,” said Amana.

“Then, step back in time for an unforgettable evening, in costume, of elegance, music and dance beneath the soaring arches of the church. There’ll be an early supper followed by an evening of dancing to live music played by The Warleggan Village Band – they did the music for BBC’s Poldark – guided by an expert caller, ensuring everyone can join in the fun. Having been to a regency dance workshop recently I can assure everyone that the dancing is incredibly elegant, the outfits amazing, and the instructions clear and simple to follow. It will be a night to remember.”

The outer bailey of Ludlow Castle will be transformed into a bustling medieval village on the bank holiday weekend and opportunities for visitors to discover traditional crafts and learn about life in a fortress town.

Ludlow Brewery is hosting a Vintage Vehicle Day along with musical events spanning multiple eras.

There will be daily town tours enabling visitors to learn about the town as well as specialist tours with guides in costume focusing on specific periods of the town’s history.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms has an eclectic programme including 1612 Underture – a 12 chapter sound poem starring the incredible Maxine Peake, telling the story of the Pendle Witches who were executed in 1612, Rex Factor Live, an uproarious take on the monarchs of Britain, spellbinding storytelling from Jason Buck and much, much more.

Lord Michael Heseltine will be in conversation with Peter Florence (ex-director of Hay Festival) discussing his latest book about the state of Britain.

Suffice to say, Amana and Jess are looking forward to August with great excitement, and they are not alone.

“I’d been thinking about this history festival for months,” said Amana.

“When I went to Ludlow Assembly Rooms and chatted with Jess we agreed immediately about the idea. Since then we’ve had various meetings in town with different organisations and it’s been met with a positive response.

“The festival is now being delivered in partnership with Ludlow Assembly Rooms, St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow Library, Ludlow Brewery, Shropshire Museum’s Service, Town Walls Trust, Ludlow Civic Society, Mortimer History Society, Ludlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Ludlow Town Council.

“It’s very much not for profit – it is simply to get the whole town buzzing about history.” In this goal, Amana has no doubt that the burgeoning festival will work wonders. “I want people who’ve lived in Ludlow all their lives to say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that was here’, and to give people a sense of pride in the history of the area.

“The Marches and Wales were ruled from Ludlow for 200 years – it was effectively the capital of Wales with administration delivered by the Marcher Parliament.

“When William and Mary went for direct rule and the Parliament was closed the regency town continued to flourish and had its own season.

“Its prosperity declined from 1815 onwards and the town became desperately poor and many of the grand houses in the centre became slum dwellings.

“The town’s fortunes began to revive in the 1960s with gentrification and it became the fascinating town we see today.

“Ludlow is beautiful, its history is vast, and if we can get more visitors into town by shouting proudly about it, all the better.

“We want to inspire the next generation of geologists, conservationists and historians. And with the festival taking place in the school holidays, we’re going to be offering plenty of free family-friendly fun that we hope will do exactly that.”

In terms of the history the festival is set to cover, the brush is magnificently broad: Geology from 400 million years ago to the present and everything in between.

With further events planned, and more to be revealed in the coming months, Ludlow History Festival looks set to be a highlight of the summer, and likely many summers yet to come.

“This whole festival is about bringing the town to life,” added Amana.

“We’re hoping the town traders will be dressed up, shop fronts decorated with historical themes, and that everyone who comes along will embrace the fun and joy of history, and the fun and joy of Ludlow.”

We’re sure that Crichton would approve.

For more information on Ludlow History Festival, and to book tickets to the Regency Ball, visit https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/