2022 - EDWARD STREET QUARTER, BRIGHTON

I was commissioned to design and build an artwork that would reflect Brighton’s historical connection to the sea and serve as a landmark for the largest neighbourhood development to be built in Brighton in 25 years.

As this was to be a permanent artwork, the materials used had to be colourfast, withstand weather extremes and last the lifetime of the building it was being fixed to. Unable to use paint, I still wanted to keep the look and feel of a painted mural.

The finished artwork is a photographic reproduction of an oil painting made in my studio, enlarged to ten times its original size and digitally printed onto Porcelain tiles. The printed image is kiln fired into the glaze, making it UV resistant and weatherproof.

Cut-out spaces in the the fishing net design give it a three-dimensional quality. Painted and aged with a copper verdigris finish, it is mounted an inch above the rusted background to create a drop shadow.

The model for ‘Neptune’ is British Body Building Champion and IFBB Diamond Cup winner - William Monzeer, a Brighton resident.

A limited edition print to accompany this public artwork is now available on my website shop here.

Photo: Andy Gardiner - [email protected]

Film: Nick Sneath

Model: William Monzeer (British Bodybuilding Champion 2011, 2014, International Bodybuilding Champion 2016)

Photoshoot: Justin Pooka

Film: Nick Sneath