Books About Town Progress on my Bookbench

My fantastic Bookbench was delivered by Charlie from Wild in Art last week. We only just managed to squeeze it through the gate! 

Books About Town  will place a number of Bookbenches around London this summer, which will feature artwork based on books and stories that celebrate links to London and aim to encourage reading for enjoyment.

This is my design inspired by Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'. 

Darwin moved to London in 1837 to concentrate on publishing his journal and findings from his voyage on the HMS Beagle. He also became a Council member of the Geological Society of London. After 20 years of exhausting  research and work, his theories on evolution, 'On the Origin of Species' was published in 1859. 

It is one of the most important pieces of scientific literature ever written and yet I doubt many people have a copy on their bookshelves!

Here is a work in progress photo...... hoping it won't take me 20 years to finish!

My studio will be open to the public next weekend as part of the Newbridge Arts Trail so anyone can come along then and see how it's progressing.

Books About Town

I'm thrilled to have my 'Tree of Life' design commissioned for Books About Town a public art project for London this summer.

The project is a joint venture between Wild in Art and The National Literacy Trust and will feature a series of BookBenches, individually designed by artists, to celebrate stories linked with London and to promote reading for enjoyment. The benches shaped as open books, will be unveiled in various locations across the capital from July 2014. Well loved illustrators creating designs include Ralph Steadman, Paul Kidby and Lauren Child.

My design is inspired by Charles Darwin's book 'On The Origin of Species' published in 1859. This being such a mammoth topic I chose to concentrate on the concept of the Tree of Life which Darwin used as a metaphor to describe the relationship of all life on earth in an evolutionary context.  There is an excellent documentary on the subject by David Attenborough which you can watch a clip of on the BBC.

Here is a sneak peak at my design. On the back rest of the BookBench I'll be painting a stylised tree with a variety of leaf shapes to represent the variety of species on earth. On the seat will be the roots of the tree, ( to represent the roots of all life on earth) interspersed with simple depictions of the history of the evolutionary changes, from single cell microscopic organisms, to fossils of past life forms and early man's representations of his own species and the animals around him.

Countdown to Cirencester Hare Festival begins

It's only two weeks to go now until the launch of the Cirencester Hare Festival on 29th March.

With designs by local artists, companies and celebrities, over 30 large hares will bring colourful and fun public art in the form of the Hare Trail, to the streets of Cirencester throughout the summer.

My first hare commission 'Harebelle' was for The Twelve Bells on Lewis Lane. This historic building has been the Twelve Bells Inn for 150 years or more, presumably named for the Cirencester Parish Church of St John the Baptist, whose full complement of 12 bells were installed in 1722.

The Inn now has a micro brewery producing their own ales and will be creating a very special pint for this summer named Harebell after the hare!

Cheeky chap on TV

Here's the cheeky chap on TV...obviously talked his way in to an earlier appearance !

Hare on TV!

Look out for my 'Harelequin' hare who will be making a guest appearance on local TV tonight, Friday 28th Feb at 6.30pm when BBC Points West do a feature on the Cirencester Hare Festival.
Only 1 month to go until the trail starts and Harelequin goes to Ingleside House

Harelequin Hare

Here's a sneek peek at my Harelequin Hare design, for the Cirencester March Hare Festival He is being sponsored by Ingleside House a beautiful venue in Cirencester which also has the Barn Theatre on site, so Harelequin will feel right at home!

The Hare Trail is being launched on 29th March with 30 larger than life hares decorated by artists, schools and businesses . Proceeds from the sales of hares will go to the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for the development of the Churn Walkway

Hare we go!

Well look who just hopped in to my studio!