Driftwood Designs brings Lizzie Spikes' Eryri-inspired art to Bala High Street

Bala's High Street has a new splash of colour. Driftwood Designs, the independent Welsh retailer run by old school friends Lizzie Spikes and Becky Barratt, has opened its fourth shop in the town, at 63 High Street next door to The White Lion Royal Hotel.

The business was formed at Becky's kitchen table in 2012 and is based in Aberystwyth. Its shops are filled with cards, prints, homewares and gifts, all designed by artist Lizzie Spikes.

"Business-wise we had been looking north for a location for the next shop for some time," Becky said. "We visited a number of towns, but none matched Bala for its real town feeling. We quickly fell in love with the Old Chocolate Shop and everything just seemed to fall into place."

For Lizzie, the move north makes perfect sense. She finds the landscape and culture of Eryri an inspiration and has created a large body of work exploring the national park's mountains, lakes and trails. "I love the drive north to the mountains of Eryri and the shift in the colours and shapes of the landscape, from the more mellow coast near Aberystwyth up to the craggy beauty of Dolgellau and beyond," she said. "Y Bala sits in a beautiful place with the striking Aran Fawddwy mountain range and the ever-changing reflections of Llyn Tegid."

The range takes in birthday and occasion cards in English and Welsh, maps and charts of North Wales and other parts of the country, fine art and poster prints, and homewares from tea towels, mugs and aprons to blankets, cushions and candles, along with calendars, notebooks and small gifts.

Lizzie and Becky say they hope the shop, in the middle of Bala's long strip of a high street, will add some Driftwood Designs sparkle to the rich selection of small independent retailers the town is known for.

With Christmas on the way, the shop's cards, prints and calendars make it a handy stop for gifts with a local flavour.

Driftwood Designs is at 63 High Street, Bala, and online at driftwooddesigns.co.uk.