Wednesday 24 September 2014

I'm On A Teapot

I feel a bit like Eric Ravillious - my artwork has been put on crockery!

The design that I made for Southampton Solent University a couple of years ago was always intended for plates.  This year the project was pushed through at last and, beyond my expectations, expanded so dramatically as to include a mug and a teapot.

Prototype printings, on crockery!

As for the design:  the borders (there are two, for the outer rim and for the bit that dips down) show a lot of tall or long things in Southampton.  The centre is split into several sections representing Southampton's history and symbols, the university's history, the art school, the maritime academy at Warsash and the figures that the university's main buildings are named after.  Here goes:

Buildings at East Park Terrace

  • Sir Christopher Cockerell, who invented the hovercraft at Thorneycroft in Southampton
  • Lord Mountbatten, Baron Romsey and celebrated elsewhere in Southampton
  • John Everett Millais, pre-Raphaelite painter, born in Southampton
  • R J Mitchell, who designed the Spitfire at Southampton's Supermarine Aviation Works
  • Michael Andrews, mayor of Southampton, who sadly died in a seaplane accident in 1998
  • Herbert Collins, suburban and garden city architect, prolific around Southampton
Buildings off the campus and student halls
  • Sir James Matthews, educationalist, councillor, and post-war town planner in Southampton
  • Lucia Foster Welch, Southampton's first female mayor
  • Emily Davies, women's activist from Southampton

It is very satisfying to see the artwork printed out and to see that it printed well.