Giant Canvases

The client sent references for Culture Mile: landmarks, green spaces, local activity and botanical drawings. My job was to turn them into one coherent, illustrated public scene that would still work as an artwork once many hands had added colour.

At East Village, I brought together the area’s skyline, parkland and neighbourhood life: botanical borders, water, wildlife, deckchairs and a nod to the Olympic legacy. The image offered different scales of participation, from filling a single leaf to working into a larger scene, so children, adults and families could contribute side by side.

For Culture Mile, the client supplied references to local landmarks and green spaces, including the Barbican, Guildhall Yard, Finsbury Circus and London Wall Place. I interpreted these as one illustrated public scene rather than a collage of photographs, combining architecture, planting and activity. Through the day, participants gradually brought the drawing to life with colour.

I was the artist and designer of both canvases. I interpreted the brief, drew and composed each image, and decided how much detail or openness each part needed.

I also designed the invitation to take part. People could choose a small motif or a larger area, stay a few minutes or much longer, and join in without any drawing experience. Accessibility wasn’t an add-on to the event; it was built into the illustration itself. On the day, I supported the making while keeping the visual direction coherent.