If you’ve been out walking in Croydon over the last couple of days, you may have noticed some new art springing up around the town centre. Through the Croydonist, one of my passions is highlighting the creativity on display in my hometown, therefore, it was a joy to partner with Croydon BID through my day job as a graphic designer to bring the work of five celebrated local artists to our streets.

This outdoor group art exhibition called ‘Creative Croydon’ showcases 15 different pieces of art depicting some of Croydon’s notable places and spaces. The art, by Kate Marsden, Gavin Kinch, Tina Crawford, Lis Watkins and Bev Jones, is exhibited on 40+ lamp post banners across Central Croydon, bringing vibrancy and creativity to our wintery streets ahead of Croydon becoming the London Borough of Culture next year.

Matt Sims, of Croydon BID says of the project ‘There is so much depth to Croydon’s artistic and cultural talent. Creative Croydon celebrates some of Croydon’s most recognisable landmarks while injecting new life and colour into our streets. Creative Croydon is yet another example of successful collaboration, and we are proud to lead and deliver such a positive campaign.’

I caught up with the artists, Kate, Gavin, Tina, Lis and Bev, to chat about their thoughts on Creative Croydon (oh and if you’re eager to locate all 15 different pieces of art, scroll to the end for the Creative Croydon art locations).

Kate Marsden

Kate lives in South London and has a background in Fashion & Textile Design and Surface Pattern Design. Her mixed media paintings, drawings and prints are the result of many years of experimentation alongside her more graphic, illustrative design based work. A desire to alter the viewer’s perception of her subject matter has long been her desired outcome, whether this be via the subversion of a traditional subject, or the beautification of something considered to be ugly or undesirable. Kate’s work can be seen in private collections as well as commercial commissions including at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls. 

Follow Kate on Instagram and Twitter and read a longer chat with her here on the Croydonist.

Croydonist: What does it mean to you to be part of the Creative Croydon exhibition?

Kate: I’m really excited about the exhibition. All the banners look amazing and complement each other so well – can’t wait to take a walk and see my work all over town!

Croydonist: Where do you go in Croydon for creative inspiration?

Kate: At the moment I’m mostly in my new studio at Grafton Square – so here (and the view of a building from my window!). I’m one of those annoying people who find inspiration everywhere, but I’m mostly inspired by Croydon’s architecture, so again just walking around the streets (and making sure I always look up!).

Croydonist: What are you particularly looking forward to about Croydon becoming the London Borough of Culture next year?

Kate: It’s such a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wide range of diverse talent in the arts in Croydon, and to show those who dismiss it what an inspiring and vibrant place it is. I’m also looking forward to getting involved personally, and discovering lots of wonderful new creative people.

Gavin Kinch

Inspired by the dark, towering splendour of brutalist architecture, Gavin’s mesmerising cityscapes have become synonymous with Croydon since he started drawing his hometown in 2015. As The Town That Love Built, his captivating artwork spans walls in Centrale, AMP House, Fairfield Halls, St George’s Tower and thousands of homes and businesses across the country.

Follow Gavin (aka The Town That Love Built) on Instagram and Twitter and read a longer chat with him here on the Croydonist.Croydonist: What does it mean to you to be part of the Creative Croydon exhibition?

Gavin: I’ve always had a underlying feeling of isolation and detachment from my surroundings; when my work started appearing around town I suddenly felt that a sense of belonging had been released – and, being alongside such wonderful artists and friends, this exhibition will continue in that spirit. I also really love lamp posts.

Croydonist: Where do you go in Croydon for creative inspiration?

Gavin: Always look up – you never know what magic you might find.

Croydonist: What are you particularly looking forward to about Croydon becoming the London Borough of Culture next year?

Gavin: Croydon is a town that has continued to evolve and regenerate inordinately further than its national typecasting would allow; anything that shines a light on the creative and cultural mass thriving within its borders is a force for good.

Tina Crawford

Tina Crawford is a born and bred Croydonite who draws with the sewing machine. Her Tobyboo products can be seen in St Paul’s Cathedral, The Globe, Soane Museum, Museum of London and English Heritage to name a few. Tina Crawford’s artwork is in collections including Soho House and the Science Museum, more locally you can see her work in the Oval Tavern!

Follow Tina on Instagram and Twitter and read a longer chat with her here on the Croydonist.

Croydonist: What does it mean to you to be part of the Creative Croydon exhibition?

Tina: My art studio is out of the area so it’s great to have something on home ground.

Croydonist: Where do you go in Croydon for creative inspiration?

Tina: I’m Croydon born and bred so I don’t have to look too hard, the diversity of people – a mix like no other London borough – helps with my work, socioeconomics and inequality is a continuing theme that runs in the background of new ideas.

Croydonist: What are you particularly looking forward to about Croydon becoming the London Borough of Culture next year?

Tina: I think it’ll be exciting to see what it will do to the music scene in Croydon which is so vibrant and underrated and it’s such an integral part of the borough!

Lis Watkins

Lis is an illustration professional, creating hand-drawn images and maps to help businesses in the travel and event sectors connect with their customers. She also gives drawing workshops, is a Visiting Lecturer at London Metropolitan University and co-founder of ‘Sketchwalk London,’ a project aiming to bring work colleagues together, outside of the office, to explore the capital in a pocket sketchbook. Lis is based at ASC Art House in Croydon.

Follow Lis on Instagram and Twitter and read a longer chat with her here on the Croydonist. (Photo of Lis by Tom Dunkley).

Croydonist: What does it mean to you to be part of the Creative Croydon exhibition?

Lis: It’s a great honour to have some of my images on display with this group of artists as I know they have all championed Croydon through their artwork over the past decade.

Croydonist: Where do you go in Croydon for creative inspiration?

Lis: I love drawing in my sketchbook so I am quite happy just sitting in a café somewhere in the town, watching the world go by and recording what I see.

Croydonist: What are you particularly looking forward to about Croydon becoming the London Borough of Culture next year?

Lis: Hopefully it will give all creatives in the town, especially the younger ones, a chance to showcase their talents, whether it be in the visual arts, music, fashion, poetry, dance or theatre.

Bev Jones

Bev grew up in a tiny dot of a village in North Wales, her house was at the end of the road at the top of the mountain where the bus turned round and went back unable to follow the track any further. It was a beautiful place, a hard place and a place for leaving. All the same, it went with Bev when she left. Bev loves painting and most of what she paints is Croydon, loving the people and the crowds more than the buildings, but the buildings are part of the story too. Lately Bev paints a lot of cranes, as there’s a lot of change to cope with just now.

Follow Bev on Instagram and read a longer chat with her here on the Croydonist.

Croydonist: What does it mean to you to be part of the Creative Croydon exhibition?

Bev: It’s always great to share my work with people locally. A lot of seeing is in how you look and where you look from both physically and psychologically. And there’s something in recognising a view as someone else has seen it that speaks to our shared humanity. The possibility of seeing and of being seen.

Croydonist: Where do you go in Croydon for creative inspiration?

Bev: There’s something in the crowd for me, in the energy people create in a space together so whenever I need inspiration I go out for a walk at rush hour or down to Surrey Street Market and do some people watching. And if there’s some rain and weather about then so much the better.

Croydonist: What are you particularly looking forward to about Croydon becoming the London Borough of Culture next year?

Bev: We all need both bread and roses so I think the London Borough of Culture is a great opportunity for providing roses at a time when so many people are struggling for their bread.

Thank you to Kate, Gavin, Tina, Lis and Bev for chatting with me. 

Look up to see Creative Croydon on display across the town centre now. To find all 15 pieces of art, check out the locations below.

In situ photography by Glenn Foster, courtesy of Croydon BID.

Posted by Julia