The Biography of Shundul.

Shundul Ashton, originally known as Shundul Hoque Chowdhury, was born in the old mill town of Burnley in Lancashire, North West England in Great Britain on the 7^th of September 1973. Shundul is the son of Elizabeth Parton who was born and bred in Burnley Lancashire, Shirajul Hoque Chowdhury, Shundul's biological father was an immigrant originally from Sylhet in Bangladesh, and John Ashton, his step-father is from the small town of Haslingden in Lancashire. Shundul has 1 half sister and 2 half brothers who are his mothers' children. Shirajul Hoque Chowdhury was never married to his mother. Elizabeth and Shirajul ended their relationship when Shundul was only 18 months old in 1975. Shortly after the end of their relationship, Elizabeth met John Ashton, they had a relationship for 6 months and then decided to get married. Elizabeth and John are still married, and together to this day. When Shundul was 11 years old, his name was changed from Shundul Hoque Chowdhury to Shundul Ashton in respect of his step-father by deed poll in 1984. Shundul's father Shirajul Hoque Chowdhury died at his home in Bangladesh on the 20^th of March 2005. Shirajul Hoque Chowdhury died of a cardiac arrest, he was married to 3 wives as a muslim, and altogether fathered over 10 children.

Shundul was born with the condition known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. He is confined to a wheelchair and usually gets around in a powerchair. Shundul has a severe physical disability and his condition mainly affects his limbs which include his joints, muscles, bones and soft tissues. Arthrogryposis mainly causes muscle weakness, malformed bones, hooked joints and contractures.

In early 1976 Shundul goes to a mainstream nursery in Burnley called Howard Street Nursery. In September 1976 Shundul attends Brunlea Special School in Burnley. In his time attending the school he developes a love and interest in Science, Art, English and Technology, mainly with computers. Shundul also learns to write, draw and paint using his mouth. He leaves the school at the age of 15 without any qualifications in 1989. In September 1989 Shundul attends Birtenshaw Hall School in Bromley Cross, Bolton in Lancashire. He resides at the school on a weekly basis and in July 1991 leaves school with 2 City & Guild Certificates English and Maths, a Biology field study certificate in Pond Life recognised by the Royal Society of Arts and a Computer Word Processing certificate. In September 1991 Shundul attends Blackpool & The Fylde College Bispham Campus, and stays at Singleton Hall in term time, at special accommodation for physically disabled students commuting to and from the college. In 1994 Shundul permanently leaves Blackpool & The Fylde College with 3 GCSE's, English, Sociology and Psychology, an Open College Computer Word Processing Certificate, An English Speech Award Certificate from the English Speaking Board and a Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Counselling Skills.

In 1994 Shundul leaves home at the age of 20 years old and lives at Lakeland View in Fleetwood, a hostel for physically disabled residents. In 1995 Shundul leaves Lakeland View in Fleetwood and starts living independently with a specialist care agency Birch Care Services, at his own flat in Bispham near the college. Helen Martin becomes Shundul's girlfriend in 1994 and moves into his flat to be with him in late 1995. Helen is with Shundul to this day and they have been together for over 16 years. In 1996, Shundul and Helen make the decision to move to Burnley, so Shundul can be closer to his parents because of problems with their health.

Helen and Shundul outside the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. August 15th 2007. Helen's 30th Birthday.

Lakeland View, Laidleys Walk in Fleetwood, Shunduls' first home after moving out of his parents house. As you can see the building is now closed and empty because of newly developed apartments, which have been built next door, for physically disabled residents. Lakeland View is being demolished in late 2009 or early 2010.

LAKELAND VIEW 1964-2008. 

From 1996 until 2003 Shundul and Helen struggle to live independently in two very run down properties in the Duke Bar area of Burnley, managing to live on the ground floor as Shundul could not get upstairs. They both suffer in very cold and damp conditions, nearly at one point losing their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning and Shundul gets Asthma, also struggling with Osteo Arthritis in his left hip. In 2003, Shundul and Helen decide to move house and find a warmer place to live, still both sleeping in a room on the ground floor but with decent central heating and a better downstairs bathroom. From 2003 until 2009 life improves slowly, but greatly, Shundul decides to start painting again by mouth in 2003 after being influenced by Jackson Pollock the American abstract painter. Shundul gets out of debt, Helen gets a degree in Psychology from the Open University in 2008. Shundul and Helen privately foster Robert Thompson in 2006 when originally he was aged 14 years old rescuing him from an abusive home in the local area. Robert is now 17 years old and with the help, love and support of Shundul and Helen he has got 8 GCSE's from school and 2 AS Levels from 6^th Form. Robert is now attending Nelson & Colne College and studying business. Shundul and Helen managed to have three holidays, one to Wales staying in Bangor in 2002 just before they moved in 2003, another to Scotland staying in Edinburgh in 2005, and France staying in Paris to celebrate Helen's 30^th Birthday which was in 2007. Shundul's health finally improves.

Shundul starts experimenting with online business from 2005 until 2007 and sells products on and off for 3 years. Without any real success Shundul decides to give up ecommerce. In late 2008 Shundul decides to take his love of art more seriously. In January 2009, Shundul opens Studio71 near to his home, in the Stoneyholme area of Burnley and becomes an artist. In August 2009 Shundul has now produced his first collection of 25 paintings which he has entitled the Redemption Series Collection 01. Currently he is in the process of selling the paintings to anyone who wants to purchase his work. 

Shundul will be painting seriously again from January in 2010. In the first 6 months of next year, Shundul hopes to paint 25 new individual works on canvas, and he will be creating a new collection or series of 15 paintings towards the end of 2010.

For now watch this space!