A COUPLE who had been dating for a short while before Covid-19 hit and the country went into its first lockdown last year are emerging from the last lockdown as husband and wife, with a new business and a baby!
Matt Mellen runs a gallery and Ecohustler.com with his wife Nicola at 25 Catherine Street. He told Frome Times, “Nicola had recently moved back to Somerset where she grew up, and her living situation meant we wouldn’t be able to see each other for much of lockdown.
“We discussed it and agreed we would take the leap – Nicola would move into my flat for lockdown. Many friends advised this was a make or break strategy. Knowing full well it could all go wrong we jumped in together… and luckily it all worked out!
“During the first lockdown both of our businesses were in a period of flux. Nicola wanted to shift away from the work she was doing in London and I wanted to spend less time behind a computer. We came up with an idea to create a space where both of us could work and hold meetings and also an opportunity to sell a different kind of art that is not found much in Frome at the moment – street art, eco art, collectable prints – all with a strong social message.
“Several shops in Frome closed during lockdown and we got wind of a great space in Badcox. The shop used to be the well loved – Mrs Moore’s vintage clothing. We got in touch with the landlord and took it on. Nicola led on the renovations making use of several friends and family members. I reached out to several of the artists I had worked with on previous environmental projects and was delighted at the enthusiasm of artists to send the work to Frome.
“Particularly exciting is that the very respected artist Carrie Reichart (she has had a show at the V&A amongst many others) sent three large mosaic artworks to the shop. Carrie is famous for being a raucous activist. Her art is punky and non-compromising. She puts tiles up around cities she visits with political slogans. She is a big supporter of Extinction Rebellion and when she came to the gallery she put an Extinction Symbol tile on the outside of the shop. Currently, the Ecohustler gallery is the only shop in the world selling Carrie’s mosaics. We also have prints, tiles and plates by her.
“Carrie’s friend, the street artist, ATM, also sent art. He is famous for doing large wildlife murals. The gallery has a beautiful trio of British song birds painted on canvas. The gallery remains crammed full of very special artworks sent by people who have connected with Ecohustler magazine on various campaigns. It has obviously been challenging not being able to get people into the shop and we are delighted to have survived the lockdowns and to be reopening this spring with a new member of staff – Frome local – Ben Still.”
Creating the gallery felt a little bit like having a baby – or so Matt thought – until the moment that Nicola became pregnant. The couple are thrilled to be coming out of lockdown – not just with a career change and passion project coming to life but also with their adorable lockdown baby, Oona. It has been a wild ride and they are both so grateful to be starting their new life together in Frome.
Matt and Nicola also married last year after the country came out of the first lockdown.
