THE Llandudno business providing a backdrop to the world-famous Great Orme goats picture is adapting to the pandemic by creating a brand-new platform to take independent art and craft courses online.

Nikki Small, 37, has been running art and craft courses for budding artisans for the last three and a half years, most recently in her award-winning wool shop on Madoc Street, Ewe Felty Thing.

The shop has gained worldwide attention due to the viral photograph of the Llandudno goats making their way past it during lockdown.

The image, taken back in March, has been shared the world over having been published first in The Guardian and since in the Washington Post and other large publications. Ewe Felty Thing have been contacted by craft lovers from as far away as Australia who have seen the image and looked up the shop.

Nikki had originally hoped to move her courses online using existing systems but found that there wasn’t anything already out there that offered all of the features needed.

Nikki realised that what was needed was a bespoke system that would enable independent art and craft tutors to create their courses in a way that would work for them.

North Wales Pioneer:

Nikki Small hand spinning on her traditional wheel.

After talking to other tutors as well as to their customers, Nikki came up with the idea of creating Craftucation - a brand-new platform just for this purpose.

Nikki said: “The goats photo has been a wonderful boost for us, especially in the early days of lockdown before the retail grants were brought in.

“We have been contacted by craft lovers the world over due to how many times it has been published and shared.

“One lady from America, a watercolour artist called Lisa Goren, is creating an art collection based on the animals of lockdown and has even done a painting."

“The art and craft world has been hit hard by the pandemic. shops have had to close, courses and classes have been unable to take place, and it will be a long time before things are able to return to normal.

"Many people have been trying to turn to creative hobbies to help combat the higher stress levels caused by the Coronavirus but have had nowhere to learn.

"I am so excited that we are developing a solution to that which will enable independent tutors and students the world over to connect with each other. Just as the many responses we have had to the Llandudno goats photograph show, a love of crafts really can connect people across the world.”

Nikki hopes to be able to launch Craftucation around Christmas/New Year.