Arun

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New signage was part of an Arts and Regeneration Project funded by Arts Council England, South East. The project that started in 2005 was managed by Sadie Tooley of Arun District Council with additional funding from local sources. I was asked to make a number of signs for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, initially in equal numbers and to specify where good sites would be to put them. I went into great detail finding out what the buildings were used for historically and was asked to reflect this in the signage. I found information and sometimes inspiration in old Kellys directories, the local museums, naughty postcards, local historical sources and had great help from the many times mayoress of Bognor Regis Sylvia Olliver.
I made proposals for Stamps based upon suggested artworks for the town and a large model of St Johns Church that had stood on the site of the Inland Revenue office years earlier; something that people growing up in the sixties, would remember. In the end it was either properties that were council owned; the Bognor museum, was given a model of a Bathing Hut celebrating not only their logo but part of the towns history; or private enterprises or autonomous institutions who took up the offer of free signage. In the end I made a model of the Jumna ; a steam tug that worked Littlehampton harbour for the Harbour Masters office; the flags spell out Be Happy in international maritime signals. A blow torch and watering can for Ockendens Hardware store, a whistle for the undertaker/sport-shop that connected both sport and death and a Ship, of the type that used to be made locally, in a bottle for the Off license. The last ‘sign’ to be finished was fixed outside the Harbourmasters Office in 2007.
Now I am about to start an early twentieth century ladies straw Sun hat to go on Bon Marche in Bognor; the premises have been used for years as a ladies out-fitters adjacent to the Sun sculpture.
For more see www.arun.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage