DRAWING BEDFORD TOGETHER |
In 2023 The Circus of Illustration commissioned a collection of new illustrations inspired by Bedford’s High Street. We worked with experienced and aspiring artists linked to Bedford, pairing them as mentors and mentees to nurture the creative industry in our town.
Read about the project in the news here and here! This project has been made possible through the Bedford High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme, thanks to funding from Historic England, in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Council England. |
Meet the Artists
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LUCY VIVAUDOU
"This piece is inspired by weekend shopping trips with friends on Bedford High Street getting quickly derailed by the distraction of delicious baked goods!" About Lucy Hello, I’m Lucy! I’m an illustrator and all-round creative gremlin who likes storytelling and in my work I’m particularly inspired by people and their stories. I grew up in Bedford (and still live here!) and graduated from Cambridge School of Art in 2020 with a degree in Illustration. Currently I work full time in London as a Junior Creative Strategist in the media/advertising industry, and enjoy working on my art (both digital and traditional) in my free time! |
MIQUE MORIUCHI
"There are lots of animals residing on Bedford High Street. Look up and you'll find them on shop signs and walls. There's even one perched above the street on a clock! Here's a little gang of them, people watching and sharing stories over coffee and cake." About Mique I am a children's book illustrator and a part-time primary school librarian. I make pictures with acrylic paint, paper, scissors and glue. I love colour. My work space is messy, with paper trails often leading to the kitchen. |
MARTA PLIZGA
"The woman I drew is Lina Ognissanti, a well-known figure in Bedford town. Who doesn't know her ice creams or dinky doughnut? I enjoy drawing people, and I knew I wanted to portray her because she is a very charming and charismatic individual. Did you know that Lina sells ice creams and doughnuts for more than 40 years in Bedford? In 2018 she has been honoured by the mayor for such a long service." About Marta Marta is a freelance illustrator and artist living in Bedford. She uses traditional techniques to express her work. Drawing and painting illustrations, as well as murals on a larger scale. Known for her bright and colourful work, she shares playful energy with her work. The main subject matter of her interest at the moment is quirky human faces and juicy still life. Marta likes to work fast and intuitive, strong strokes and uneven, wavy lines characterise her style. |
RONALD M MCKAY
"Joan sells eggs on the market and is one of several generations to do so. She is a local character and is recognisable by her woolly hat. I like the contrast between the figure and the shapes created by the eggs and egg boxes." About Ronald I am a Bedford based artist who works in a range of different media. My work is primarily figurative although I also produce abstracts where an element of chance is involved. |
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DOMINIKA KALINOWSKA
"The sculpture created by Rick Kirby, features large metal sculptures representing diversity and connection. With the added mandalas and doodles in the picture, the artwork becomes a symbol of facing fears, understanding the soul, and promoting mental health. This fusion of sculpture and art therapy inspires introspection, resilience, and empathy, fostering personal growth and healing." About Dominika Dominika Kalinowska is a Certified Hypnotherapist with a passion for mental health topics, art and mindful mandala drawings. Currently, she works as an Applicant Engagement Manager at Cranfield University. |
SIMON ABBOTT
"My main memories of Bedford High Street are from nights out in the mid 2000s, bouncing around from pub to pub. If we managed to avoid the perils of Time Out, we'd retreat to The Bear and its pinball machine. I wanted to illustrate this in a playful way, so here we have an advert for Bedford's Pub Crawl '05 pinball machine!" About Simon Simon Abbott is a visual artist whose practice is driven by a belief in the power of creativity as a tool for helping people communicate, share, learn, and be happy. Projects have included visualising ‘Utopian Learning Spaces’ as part of the MIF Creative Lab and exploring the impact of creativity as a tool for communication and cohesion in Higher Education through workshops and interviews. Currently based in Colchester, Simon spent his formative years in Bedfordshire, and has enjoyed working on a number of Circus of Illustration projects over the years, connecting with Bedford and its communities in the process. |
CLARE O'BRIEN
"This piece was inspired by the rich history of the enduring Harrison and Simmonds shop. After reading about the shop’s various iterations and the adaptive nature of its owners on the Bedford High Street History Project website, I settled on one of the earliest proprietors of the shop, Nathaniel Harrison Simmonds as the hero of this piece. The shop front behind him represents a later, post-war version of the store and its wares – a vision of what was to come for Nathaniel’s descendants." About Clare By day I am a teacher of art and design, and by night I am an illustrator and designer. My illustrations are about people and their stories, and my hope is that they might start conversations that encourage people to share their own experiences. I am fascinated by the lithographed children’s picture book illustrations of the early Puffin Books, and the wartime artwork of Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden. My process often begins by hand, with outlined illustrations drawn using pencil and paper and textures developed through print making. These elements are combined digitally to create collaged pieces. |
MOMINUR RAHMAN
"A fantastical re-imagining of the Bedford Cat Cafe!" About Mominur I am a Bedford based digital illustrator who primarily works in fantasy art exploring themes of mythology, adventure, and the power of imagination. My work combines intricate details, vibrant colors, and fantastical elements. I am always looking to grow and have recently been experimenting with different styles and mediums. |
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ASSIM HEETUN
"Inspired by nights out on Bedford High Street!" About Assim An experienced illustrator, capable of many styles of illustration from stylized to realistic. Has worked on a wide array of projects, delivering work for games, merchandise, TV, print media, wall-art and many more. Outside of work, Assim enjoys illustrating personal projects and ideas, learning 3D, embroidery, shopping for hats, as well as trying to get faster solve times on a rubix cube! |
RUE HUGHES
"This piece is inspired by the murals around Bedford High Street with an art deco twist. While the buildings are sharp, lively and filled with character, imitating the familiar architecture of the High Street, the smooth, winding river connects them and offers a breather for the eyes; just like it always has done. As the roaring 20’s signature art deco style represents everything modern, luxurious and commercial, I felt it tied perfectly into the shopping lifestyle that the High Street thrives on. One thing’s for sure, growing up in Bedford, the High Street was always the place to meet." About Rue Rue, also known as Arcade Vinyl on socials, is an 18-year-old student and illustrator going to uni this September to study 2D animation. Influenced by the cinema and cartoons of their childhood they specialise in character and concept illustration, however also enjoy collage work, graphic design and lino printing. |
SOPHIA ANTONIOU
"A depiction of the John Bull Jewellery shop back when it was first built." About Sophia I am a full time graphic designer however I have a huge passion for illustrations & painting! My aspiration is to set up my own shop where I can sell my artwork as prints! I am freshly graduated from college so I’ve only been working as a designer for 8 months but loved every bit of it. |
MARIA MERRIDAN
"The Golden Bull Clock is a notable landmark on Bedford High Street and used to hang above the original John Bull and Co. Clock and Watchmakers. Everyday at 10.00 am, the clock would receive a time signal directly from Greenwich and chime, Bedford residents would then set their watches by the bell ringing. The six short electronically generated 'pips' from the Greenwich time signal are identified as the bold vertical strips behind the pigeon in the illustration and the pigeon is also symbolically holding a time fuse in its beak, John Bull and Co. made and supplied these during the 1st World War." About Maria Maria graduated from Kent Institute of Art and Design in 1992 after gaining a BA Hons Degree in Communication Media (Illustration Pathway). Her fine art work frequently includes a range of media including; print, collage, drawing and painting. Themes of natural history and science are often incorporated in the imagery. Maria also illustrates contemporary, hand-made cards and other original printed paper-based goods under the name ‘Coded Storm’. |
TONY UNDERHILL
Our cover artist "As well as capturing the general buzz of activity, my overall concept for the cover images was to showcase some of the wonderful architecture the High Street has to offer for anyone willing to cast their eyes above shop window level." About Tony As an ‘urban sketcher’ with a special interest in buildings, I prefer to work on location, as quickly and simply as possible, usually with pen and watercolour, aiming to capture ‘character and feel’ rather than ‘accuracy and detail’. With more than fifty published articles over the last ten years or so, I’m also a regular contributor to national art magazines e.g Leisure Painter and Paint & Draw. |
ZINE LAUNCH
On Saturday 19th August 2023 we held a big drawing day in Bedford town centre and gave out copies of the zine for free. |
