Nick Dow Gypsy Wagon Restorer

Nick Dow best known for restoring a Gypsy Caravan for Ronnie Wood is interviewed by Dean Sullivan

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Gypsy
• Wagon
• Caravan
• Painting

[mulungungozi]

It was a real pleasure to view your work and hear your comments. My great grandfather was a traveller and used to make these kind of caravans in Battersea, London. Evidently he was very well known in traveller circles and I am trying to find out more about him.

[atchintan]

Tell us his name! There may be some memories.

[thelovebadgers]

Hi NIck,

Someone bought a wagon to me yesterday to paint and told me you had built it. I am having difficulty in believing this as the workmanship is downright shoddy, and would like to put this person right. The only thing I can do is show them your work on youtube, which shows you are a perfectionist and wouldn't do such a thing! Someone has also painted, in very dodgy lettering, "W J Lee" on the front of the undercarriage ...could I send you a pic of said wagon for your inspection?

[atchintan]

Yes of course you can. I have built seven wagons, the last with traveller education. The first was fifteen years ago and was a first attempt but has the name of a pub on the front. The others were good solid wagons. W. Lee is my best friend, and that might account for the connection, however please let me see a photo and I'll give you an honest answer.

[nomadic117]

good job on panting them wagons

[atchintan]

Thank you very much.

[azyeennekun]

This is amazing, my great grandad lived in a really beautiful vardo before my family settled :) I really wish I could learn the skill

[UKSWHIPHOP]

watched this video then looked on google (because i really want one :D) and stumbled upon your site and ide just like to say they are absolutely gawjous and it would be a pleasure to own one one day, cheers

[titch1974]

nice waggon and well painted i am the nephew of tom stephenson who was a well known waggon painter up here in the northeast.i used to watch him paint when i was younger and now wished i had took more notice its a true art and not many ov you lot about

[DjGaryMillar01]

What an utterly fantastic restorer.. I love how he lines out with paint.. I wish that i had that skill - & the gold leaf.... !

Totally mesmorising to watch one of these true professionals ply his trade.

Unique & fascinating. - Well done.

Kind regards, Gary.

[Nyghtshade409]

Those wagons are absolutely GORGEOUS. I would love to have one and travel the countryside...do you think a 13.3hh pony could handle a smaller caravan? My horse is currently retired to pasture with a friend's herd, mostly because I'm too big to ride him now, he can only handle someone about 100 pounds because of his size.

[mulungungozi]

@atchintan - My great grandfathers name was Edward Charles JAMES 1870 - 1935 :-)

[beaglebob]

Building wagons isn't joinery........

It's a passion only found in the travelling blood.....

A very good friend of mine builds and restores wagons:Ian Milburn from County Durham.

John Arnott ;RIP carried out the painting.

And me and me father done all the metal work:Suddick's......

We as Nick Dow has proven there are few real builders who take serious pride and have the passion to keep the history alive and keep the skills going........

[skipy936]

I am pleased to annouce that Nick will appearing at White horse folkfestival 2010