Amanda Peach: My Yorkshire

Travelling up from Nottingham where I was born and raised, to my interview at Batley School of Art when I was 18. I didn’t understand then, but I realise now, there are so many and varied and different aspects to Yorkshire and, thankfully, its industrial past is still very present in areas like Dewsbury and Batley.

What’s your favourite part of the county – and why?

I love the ruggedness of the Holme Valley which offers brilliant walks and cycling routes but I also love being in the centre of Leeds with its amazing architecture and lively buzz, where I lived for some time. Holmfirth is a lovely little town, even if it does tend to teem with Last of the Summer Wine tourists. Holmfirth also has a lively and thriving music scene at the Picturedrome, which we like a lot.

What’s your idea of a perfect day, or a perfect weekend, out in Yorkshire?

Going for a long dog walk up near Ramsden reservoir followed by an ice cream at Yummy Yorkshire. We’ve got a Great Dane, seven-and-a-half months old, called Napoli, who is bursting with energy and is half-way through being trained. She’s behaving pretty well, so anywhere we can let her off the lead, we do.

Do you have a favourite walk – or view?

Standing at the top of Holme Moss and looking down over the whole of the Holme Valley and beyond. It’s breathtaking. A stunning view with equally stunning walks surrounding, and another place where Napoli can get exercised.

Which Yorkshire sportsman, past or present, would you like to take for lunch?

He’s not strictly a sportsman but he has raced cars and that’s good enough for me, so my choice is the chef, James Martin. I love James’s work, I’ve never met him, but I find his cooking inspirational. Would taking him to a restaurant for lunch be a busman’s holiday for him? I hope not.

Which Yorkshire stage or screen star, past or present, would you like to take for dinner?

The wonderful Michael Palin, the Sheffield lad, and just because he was brilliant in GBH. I love his work – what an all-rounder. He can act, write, and present – his travel programmes on TV are always unmissable. He seems such a sweet and uncomplicated man, with a wicked sense of humour, and totally unspoilt by his success in so many fields. I think our dinner would be a riot of fun.

If you had to name your Yorkshire hidden gem, what would it be?

The vineyard in Holmbridge, which is very new, and possibly the most northerly place to grow grapes in England. It was featured on a Channel 4 programme not so long ago, and the story is that a couple took over an old farm, renovated the farmhouse and decided to create a vineyard on the northern slopes of the valley. They are concentrating on rosé and white wines at the moment, but I believe that they are hoping to create a red wine in time. I’ve had some (there have only been two vintages so far) and I think that it’s delicious. So well done to them for their enterprise and their determination.

What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity?

Its creativity; there are so many talented designer-makers in our county making work every single day for either an exhibition, private commission or shop somewhere, and it’s all done behind closed doors. You may never know they’re there apart from the fact you could come across their work in The Conran Shop and suddenly realise they work down the road from you!

Do you follow sport in the county?

No, sorry – the only thing that we follow is the Tour De France, because we were both very keen cyclists before the girls came along. Chris still rides his bike; I’m afraid that I don’t.

Do you have a favourite restaurant, or pub?

We love The Flouch Balti Restaurant, near Hazelhead. They serve the best Indian food you will find anywhere – the décor may not quite be The Ritz, but what goes on the tables in the dishes is superb. There are also a few nice places nearby in Holmfirth.

Do you have a favourite food shop?

Hinchliffe’s Farm Shop, in Netherton, near Huddersfield. It’s a true farm shop, selling really good fresh local produce, along with a live chicken if you wish. They had a disastrous fire there a while ago, and now they are up and running again, in two temporary huge tents, and there are plans to rebuild properly in the pipeline. I wish them every success, and I wouldn’t dream of shopping anywhere else. It’s so important to support local enterprises and to put back into your community.

How do you think that Yorkshire has changed, for better or for worse, in the time that you’ve known it?

Yorkshire has developed culturally into a county which offers so much to everyone, whether you love walking, the arts, film, theatre, food or sports. There is so much to do, and every taste or activity is catered for.

Who is the Yorkshire person that you most admire?

Anyone who sets up their own creative practice, who has a dream or an ideal and a goal, and who goes for it. And also – who else? – Barbara Hepworth. I once had the pleasure of being shown round her private sculpture store and studio in St Ives, and I still get goose pimples just thinking about it. There’s the new Hepworth Gallery opening in Wakefield, in May, and we are working very closely with the folk there, and that has been such a pleasure. It’s been a wonderful and collaborative relationship. It is a hugely important project and I can’t wait to get the public in there to marvel at that woman’s work.

Has Yorkshire influenced your work?

Oh, yes, indeed! Having trained and then spent my whole working life here, Yorkshire has inspired me to do the work I do every day. It’s a culturally and creatively a very rich county, and YSP likes to promote and highlight many of the very talented young graduates and established designer-makers working today.

Name your favourite Yorkshire book/author/artist/CD/performer.

I really like the music of The Last Shadow Puppets, who are a spin-off band from The Arctic Monkeys, but not quite as brash, perhaps, and I love and admire the work of artist Su Blackwell, from Sheffield, who creates the most beautiful paper sculptures from old books. She makes the most amazing small models, but also does works for shop windows and fashion displays, and she works with some of the biggest designers, some really huge “names”.

If a stranger to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place, it would be?

Here’s an unashamed plug for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which brings together an internationally acclaimed exhibitions programme, stunning landscapes, great food and a fabulous shopping experience. This with the award-winning architecture is a place not to be missed. The good thing about the park is that it can be appreciated in any weather.