"Over the last year the iconic buildings I’ve drawn have included Home Ales in Daybrook, Shipstones Brewery in Basford, and Victoria Baths in Sneinton"
This drawing was done after revisiting Triumph Road, Lenton, last autumn. Fifty years ago this district of the city was a thriving hub of activity - Player’s is one of the last landmarks of industry in this area. The world famous Raleigh factory, where I briefly worked as a canteen girl, has been demolished to make way for the Jubilee university campus, and the main Player’s site in Radford has become a retail park.
As part of an on-going project I am documenting various buildings in Nottingham and industrial sites that have become redundant. I start my pieces by visiting a site and writing
notes about the scale of the building and the surroundings. If I can I make quick sketches and take a few photos of details of the building - in this case the distressed writing where the paint is chipping off. I draw using very simple lines and because of this simplicity it is a quick process. I wanted the finished illustration to have a clean, linear quality. The colours used here are much brighter than on the building itself, perhaps a subconscious decision to bring a bit of life back into the site. It is strange to think that this building is one of the last remnants of such a large global brand that was founded in Nottingham over a century ago.
Over the last year the iconic buildings I’ve drawn have included Home Ales in Daybrook, Shipstones Brewery in Basford, and Victoria Baths in Sneinton. As part of WEYA I reproduced some of the images onto cards, notebooks and mugs. I was surprised at the feelings of nostalgia they evoked; it’s great to hear people telling you about their memories and connections to these landmarks. I have been working on similar work around the country, such as one for the Royal London Hospital museum in Whitechapel relating to Leicester born Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick. I was also commissioned to design some products for Bury Art Gallery shop in Manchester, the local council purchased some of these and presented them to Bury-born film director Danny Boyle.
I studied design at Leeds Met, then Art at Sheffield Hallam Uni, since graduating I‘ve really discovered a passion for drawing but with a focus on making my work accessible. I started my own company, In Spades Design, for which I design and make screen printed items, mugs, cards and notebooks. I have been lucky to have the support of Nottingham tourist information centre who have commissioned me to make a series of Nottingham quote mugs and ‘Ey Up Mi Duck’ tote bags.
Eva will have a stall in the NTU Newton Building foyer during the Festival of Words on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February from 10am - 5pm.
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