Sixty colourful banners have been installed by Watford BID (Business Improvement District) along the High Street, The Parade, Clarendon Road and Kings Street in Watford town centre.
Adding a splash of colour along the town centre, the banners feature colourful characters using popular attractions such as Cassiobury Park, The Pond, Vicarage Road, Watford Palace Theatre and Watford Colosseum, as well as celebrating well-known Watford personalities – boxer Anthony Joshua, football manager Graham Taylor and actor Bradley Walsh.
The banner designs were commissioned by Watford BID and created through a collaboration between two young Hertfordshire based creative talents – Marco Caruso and Ryan Coates.
The project is part of Watford BID’s work on improving the look and feel of the town centre, making it more welcoming for residents, workers and visitors.
27-year-old Hitchin based illustrator and sculptor Marco, studied Art & Design BTEC at John Henry Newman sixth form in Stevenage and then Illustration at University of Lincoln.
The artist creates quirky sculptures of people which begin as a sketch and are then hand sculpted using clay.
He was briefed by Watford BID to create a set of unique and captivating images which represent the town.
Watford based design agency, We are Acuity, were brought on board to adapt Marco’s drawings into digital designs. 23- year-old Ryan from Radlett, joined We are Acuity in 2017 as an intern after studying Graphic Design at West Herts College and University of Hertfordshire.
Now a junior graphic designer at the agency, Ryan has used polygonic style patterns and bright colours to mimic the shaping techniques Marco uses in his sculptures to create vibrant and eye-catching banners.
Maria Manion, chief executive of Watford BID, said: “The banners are a stunning example of bringing together two creative talents, who would normally work in very different mediums, and letting them address our brief. We are really excited and thrilled at the outcome, particularly as they had a very tight deadline to work to. Marco and Ryan show what great talent we have in Hertfordshire.”
“The banners will certainly add that splash of colour during the winter months and we hope people will come into the town to see, a great display of contemporary art and colour.”
The banners will be in place until late spring after which the BID’s annual floral displays will return.
Marco is currently in the process of creating sculptures based on the banner drawings which will be displayed in the town at a later date.
For further information about Watford BID visit the website watfordbid.co.uk.
To view more of Marco Caruso’s work visit marco-caruso.com
To learn more about We are Acuity visit weareacuity.com
Picture courtesy of Dave Parker
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