EAST STREET GALLERY

One of 2022’s highlights which also was a great honour was a collaborative Public Artwork, commissioned by Go Epsom about the many faces and aspects of Queen Elizabeth II in the year of her platinum Jubilee. The big idea was to invite both International and UK students to come up with their take on the longest serving Queen in our history. This was an extremely complex project even though it looks quite simple there was so many aspects to tie up logistically and technically. I think Epsom now has something really stunning in its town centre which the whole community can enjoy.

EPSOM’S NEWEST GALLERY

The East Street Gallery is located under a train bridge in the centre of Epsom, a city known for its arts and history. The theme of the works inside each frame are currently the queen’s 70th jubilee, Epsom’s history (notably Emily Wilding Davidson & Epsom salts) and Epsom’s performing arts culture. In the future the artworks inside the frames will be updated in line with events happening in years to come.

Creating an outdoor gallery space brings art into peoples everyday lives, and as we found from peoples comments while painting, the gallery has already been bringing happiness and inspiration to the locals who walk by. Whether they are university students, commuters or children going to school, public art is available for everyone to appreciate and gives the feeling that art isn’t something so far away.

The whole idea was a competition set up as a project for the University of Creative Arts Epsom second year graphic students. The chosen artworks would feature on the wall of fame.

WORKING WITH THE LOCAL ARTS UNIVERSITY

VIEW STUDENT PROJECT PAGE

STUDENT ARTWORK PROCESS

I managed Every aspect from working with the client on the brief, judging the artwork, training the students in spray paint methodology and Street art practice. The way I achieved this was to have individual tutorials with each student post intro workshop to support them in achieving their goals.

Here, you’ll see the culmination of working with each student to help them to translate their graphic digital concepts into real life pieces of art painted in the public eye.

Spray painting & design workshop at UCA

Students present their design concepts

Selection of students artwork & feedback

Bringing the artwork to life

INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK

The whole idea was a competition set up as a project for the University of creative arts Epsom @ucaepsomgraphics second year graphic students. The chosen artworks would feature on the wall of fame.

STUDENT ARTWORK REVEAL

Artwork by Yeye Dai

MAKING THE FRAMES

Each gilt frame is a bespoke stencil created by my assistant and produced using laser cutting. The amazing thing about working with stencils is the future possibilities of using these again and again for more projects. I am looking forward to seeing what other amazing things can be done with them! Scroll through the process below and see what it took to get these frames ready.

In Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, splitting each frame into three layers to then be laser cut

Finding frames & mocking up the layout onto the walls

Creating an instructions booklet so it is clear in what order to paint on site

Frame stencils are delivered, and the painting process begins.

FRAMES DESIGNS TO BE CUT

As you will see the gold and baroque style frames were very technical and we were working for months in advance getting all the artwork and also the stencils laser cut to the scheme.