A business owner opening a shop in a Wiltshire town is set to appear on a “unique” new TV show.
Athena Cauley Yu, the founder of Meticulous Ink, a luxury stationery and calligraphy business in Bath, will appear on the BBC’s new show Race Against the Tide, hosted by Love Island’s Iain Stirling.
As previously reported, Athena is currently working to open her new headquarters at 24 New Road in Chippenham this September.
Significant refurbishment works are ongoing to transform the long empty unit that was once home to Cousin Norman's into a printing shop.
Race Against the Tide is a high-stakes sand sculpting competition that sees seven teams, each made up of a professional sand sculptor and a complete newcomer to the craft, race to create breathtaking sculptures before the incoming tide washes them away.
This six-part competition will take place on West Sands Beach in St Andrews and Athena will be one of the seven sand sculpting newbies trying to win out.
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She will be partnered with professional sand sculptor Rachel Stubbs and hopes her artistic flair and love of storytelling will help transform tonnes of sand into spectacular sculptures.
“The main reason I wanted to take part in Race against the Tide was how utterly random and niche it sounded”, she said.
“Learn how to build enormous, elaborate sand sculptures from a professional? Absobloominlutely!
“I adore a bit of hands-on creativity and am very much all for doing the random fun thing when the opportunity arises.
“It was a hilarious, intense situation that taught me about letting go - about pouring all this effort and energy into a moment just for it to disappear back into nature. It was magic.”
Judging the sculptures are acclaimed artist and sculptor Sadie Clayton and internationally renowned sand sculptor Jamie Wardley. Together, they’ll be looking for technical skill, creativity, and above all, wow factor.
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Race Against the Tide launches on BBC Two on August 18 at 7.30pm and all episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from August 17.
Meticulous Ink’s new Chippenham branch is being opened following the closure of its premises in Bath after 11 years.
The Chippenham venue is being launched with the help of a Crowdfunder campaign to find the business a new home.
Meticulous Ink will also be retaining a smaller retail premises in Bath which opened at Walcot Street on August 1.
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