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ILLUSTRATED TOWNSCAPE FOR OUR LATEST MURAL
7 February 2012
I’m just about to start on the final artwork for a large portrait mural that will adorn the entrance of a new Medical Centre being constructed at this very moment in the small town of Yarm in Cleveland.
Dr Neil Reynolds of Yarm Medical Centre expressed his delight in the beauty of his home-town, wishing to display the history of the town as an artwork in the new medical centre. Tony set off for his first meeting armed with notepad and camera and returned later armed with plenty of photos and an initial brief. Unfortunately a photograph would not be able to do justice to the town’s beauty due to all the additions of any modern street scene: bus shelters, parked vehicles, gaudy shop posters. With utter joy I realised I could put my illustrative skills to perfect use! Our concept was to create a modern version of the old 1930s travel posters, using bright colours and dramatic shadows, as shown in detail below.
I had already illustrated half the townscape when Tony returned to Yarm a few weeks later, with me in tow. I needed a few more photos of the town to check what one or two of the buildings really looked like behind that parked van. With Dr Reynolds guidance of what he wished to include, we spent the rest of the day inside Yarm Town Hall researching and scanning historic information, ready to put together a brief history of the town that would accompany the illustration.
SKY FULL OF HOT AIR BALLOONS IS FEATURED ON BBH WEBSITE
3 February 2012
Due to a sudden rush of work, only just noticed our project unveiled in November was featured in the newly designed Building Better Healthcare website. Much of our work is published on this website. Thanks go to Jo Makosinski, Editor at BBH, for publicising our work without us even realising!
The following link takes you through to the feature.
A SKY FULL OF HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE UNVEILED
22 November 2011
Members of the Charitable Appeals Trust turned up for their regular evening meeting to be greeted by three colourful illustrated murals. After 25 years and having raised over £2.3 million, our murals are to be a permanent reminder to all visitors to the Children Centre in the King’s Mill Hospital of their significant achievements. In fact, as Frances Stein, Chairman of the Appeals Trust informed me on the telephone the next morning, it was to be their very last meeting.
Tony had been present to oversee the installation of the murals, but this evening’s celebrations were the first time I had viewed them personally. We arrived slightly before everyone else to photograph our latest project, and I was extremely impressed with the high quality of print and fitting. It’s wonderful when you have spent so much time and injected so much enthusiasm into a project that the end result appears just how you expected.
And, I wasn’t the only one to be impressed! We were congratulated many times by the Trust members on our creativity to create a bright colourful mural that not only appeals to children, young people and their parents, but also acknowledges the generosity of the local community and the massive achievements of the Charitable Appeals Trust.
STEAD HOSPITAL MURAL CELEBRATIONS
13 July 2011
The Stead Hospital mural was officially unveiled on 5 July by the League of Friends and the Chair of NHS Redcar and Cleveland.
I commented on how everyone was dressed up in beautiful colours suitable for a summers day apart from myself, (I was dressed up, but in black and white). Joan Elders of the League of Friends gave a speech and I was thrilled to be presented with a large colourful bunch of flowers which totally cheered up my outfit! Tony was also presented with a bottle of wine.
NOC’S HISTORY GOES ON DISPLAY
13 July 2011
In 2008 the hospital received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a heritage mural to be displayed in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre’s main atrium. Since then the hospital has enlisted local primary and secondary schools to help research the history of the hospital.
Children from Windmill Primary School in Headington joined in the ceremony on 7 June to unveil our latest heritage project to patients, visitors and staff at the NOC. Everyone rushed forward to get a closer view as the mural, fitted to the large circular column at the centre of the atrium, was gradually unveiled.
IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!
31 May 2011
After working on the heritage display for the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford on and off for the last three years; it’s now at its final stage.
I am extremely pleased with how the design has worked out. I’ve used a strict grid of colour coded ‘bars’ to literally suggest the building blocks of life, in other words, the important stem cell research that is carried out at the hospital. These ‘blocks’ also reflect the windowpanes on the dramatic glass fronted atrium of the main reception area, where the mural will be situated.
Six feature panels focus on different subject categories highlighting the differences between past and present care. These are separated by brushed aluminium columns that feature anatomical dot-screen printed images. Installation is now complete but covered up ready for the unveiling event on 7 June. As usual I can’t wait to see the mural all complete, and the first reactions of everyone at the hospital.
A SKY FULL OF HOT AIR BALLOONS
29 March 2011
We are well on the way with the design for the illustrated mural to be sited in the brand new Women and Children’s Centre at King’s Mill Hospital. The project brief stated that the design needed to be attractive for children and young people and at the same time acknowledge the generosity of the local community and the achievements of the Charitable Appeals Trust.
Our concept is to use hot air balloons as a ‘vehicle’ to carry photographs representing some of the most noteworthy fundraising achievements. Trailing from each photo will be a banner giving a brief description of the event. The main mural title will feature on the basket of the large centre balloon, the basket full of excited, smiling children.
I totally adore working on projects like this, and am now onto the next stage of illustrating the country landscape. As requested by the client I have included ‘The Major Oak’ of Sherwood Forest (the large tree on the left). This is reported to be the most famous living tree in the world that according to local legend once used to shelter Robin Hood and his band of merry men. I have also been asked to include some small animals and birds into the landscape.
SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE GAINSBOROUGH HERITAGE FANPAGE
28 March 2011
We ere contacted via email the other day by Andrew Birkitt, Exhibitions Officer and a Founder Member of the Gainsborough and District Heritage Association.
“I understand that your team were responsible for the mural in the John Coupland Hospital in Gainsborough that we were involved in the research of, and I was wondering if you had any interesting photos of the mural that we could use on our fanpage. In the meantime I would like to add my own congratulations on the finished result, it is something I have admired on several occasions.”
The following link takes you through to the feature.
“A FANTASTIC JOB!”
28 March 2011
We worked alongside The League of Friends of the Stead Hospital throughout this project and their response has been enthusiastic at all times. When we are given a free reign (as we are very lucky to be able to do on most projects), we are able to really push the boundaries to complete a project that is immensely satisfying to ourselves and to all those involved. We are extremely pleased with the finished mural with its laser cut stainless steel frame, and to receive the following letter just adds to our sense of pride that we have achieved the best job possible.
“Dear Karen and Tony
Peter and I called in Redcar Hospital today to view the completed artwork. We were very impressed; we think you’ve done a fantastic job. I’m sure all our members will be happy with it. It’s been lovely meeting you both and thanks for the wonderful mural; you are very talented. Look forward to seeing you at the unveiling.”
Joan Elders, Chairman of The League of Friends of the Stead Hospital, Redcar
A CELEBRATION OF THE CHARITABLE APPEALS TRUST – KING’S MILL HOSPITAL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
28 February 2011
We are very happy to announce the start of our most recent commission – a heritage display to recognise the very significant achievements of the King’s Mill Charitable Appeals Trust.
Led by Frances Stein, with the help of many volunteers and the local community, the appeal has raised over £2.3 million for the benefit of the hospital since the start of the first appeal 25 years ago.
“We have a total of 21 lever arch files containing photographs and press cuttings which records a huge variety of fund raising events and donations of cash from local clubs, pubs, businesses, local councils and individual members of the public over many years.
“The challenge is to produce a design which is attractive for children and young people and at the same time acknowledge the generosity of the local community and the achievements of the Appeals Trust.” (project brief)
Our intention is to create an illustrated display that is bright, colourful and fun, which will appeal to children and adults alike. The display will be sited in the brand new Women and Children’s Centre at King’s Mill Hospital.
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