Chepstow

2005

Chepstow was suffering from a poor quality pedestrian environment and competition from larger neighbouring retail centres. To reverse the decline Monmouthshire County Council commissioned Atkins to undertake an ambitious re-design of the town centre. The role of art in place making was enthusiastically endorsed by both Atkins and the client.

I was appointed lead artist in 2003 and the success of integrating artwork into the scheme is largely down to commissioning an artist as first concepts were being developed, as well as the close working relationship fostered by landscape architect Simon Andrews of Atkins and Chris Jones, then Head of Regeneration for Monmouthshire County Council. This resulted in artwork being integral to not just the look of the scheme but the actual built structures too. Simon once suggested that if you take the artwork away the walls fall down. There is also a healthy amount of concrete and masonry of course, but the insight was valid and is the mark of true collaboration.

I took as my inspiration the history of Chepstow, once a busy medieval free port complete with fortified town walls. Chepstow’s long trading history and its location on the River Wye added elements of market trades, fishing and boat building. I also felt this was an important aspect to promote in the public engagement, since we were proposing to radically re-configure the town centre.

I was however keen that this history be revealed through intriguing carvings and thought-provoking text rather than literal interpretation that does little to hold sustained attention. A high street is a well-used space, and I like the idea that there is always the possibility of discovering new detail.

I was fortunate to be introduced to Tom Clark, a master stone carver from Somerset who relished the task of rendering my drawings of market produce, wine bottles, boats and baskets in such well-crafted low relief carvings. The extensive lettering was engraved by Cerrig of Pwllheli.

As well as undertaking my own extensive local research, I worked with poets Menna Elfyn and Anne Cluysenaar in order to incorporate text throughout the scheme. This lends detail to the scheme and makes a walk down the High Street an exploration of text, thought, history and place. I then added to this journey of discovery by commissioning Chepstow-based ceramicist Ned Heywood to create over-sized historic coins embedded in the paving, reflecting trade and the paying of tolls to enter this ancient market town.

How I loved working on this project.

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