‘Through the Lens’ Project
A collaborative project with The Colour Factory, Network Rail, The Romsey School, and Southampton University.
This project combines science and art as a way of enhancing Romsey Railway Station whilst giving the local community ownership over the artwork and display.
Sponsored by Network Rail, the project brings together Year 9 students from Romsey School, myself and Jenny from The Colour Factory and members of the science research team from Southampton University.
The original idea was to create 'portholes' into 'miniature worlds'.
This started with Southampton University bringing three of their high powered microscopes into the art room at the school.
The students had previously been out and about collecting natural objects from the station vicinity, including bark, plants, fungi, and even pieces of metal given to them by Network Rail. These were examined under the microscopes and photographed.
Next we were sent their amazing microscopic photographs for selection, and chose those that could best be reinterpreted as landscapes, planets etc. and provide backgrounds for the students 'miniature worlds’. These amazing photos were then faithfully recreated in acrylic paint on these circular cutouts by Rachael and Jenny. No easy task!
Next step, we then took the painted cutouts into Romsey School where the students were helped to create people and characters that would inhabit their miniature worlds.
These finished artworks are now installed inside the lower pedestrian tunnel at Romsey Station. We hope you will come along and have a look!
Microscopic Photograph
After I painted the porthole
After the children worked on the porthole
Painting Peter
This portrait of Peter was a real labour of love and was commissioned by his wife Lynne after he sadly passed away. Peter was a true, old fashioned gentleman, a lovely man, and I really wanted to do him justice. I had painted a mural for the couple a few years previously, so this was a very special commission. Working together with Lynne, we included items that were personal and meaningful, from book titles to clothing.
The ‘Art of Bollards’ Project
The ongoing Art of Bollards Project started in 2005 by The Colour Factory artists, injecting some colour and vitality into Winchesters drab and dreary street furniture. There are currently 28 painted bollards in the collection!
The ongoing Art of Bollards Project started in 2005 by The Colour Factory artists, injecting some colour and vitality into Winchesters drab and dreary street furniture. There are currently 28 painted bollards in the collection!
Myself and Jenny continue to transform everyday black and white bollards in The Square Winchester into individual works of art. Inspiration is taken from iconic paintings by artists such as Klimt, Picasso, Sonia Delaunay, Mondrian and Matisse.
The collection of exquisitely painted bollards also includes David Hockney, Leonardo Da Vinci, Henri Magritte & Jackson Pollock. The Square in Winchesters historic city centre houses 21 distinctive painted Bollards creating an intriguing outside art gallery, with a further 7 painted bollards on Eastgate Street depicting life on the River Itchen. The Bollards and continue to fascinate and amuse locals and visitors to the city and can even be found on Wikipedia!
This amazing project continues to develop thanks to the kind sponsorship of local businesses and Winchester City Council.
If you would like to sponsor the painting of a bollard, please contact us.
