National Museum of the Royal Navy: Eliza's Adventure History Trail
I was approached by The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool, to help them create a unique self-led trail of the HMS Trincomalee.
Richard Davidson (Illustrator and Learning Producer at the NMRN) with Abby Taylor, pictured with trail guide they produced, “Eliza’s Adventure”.
I was approached by The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool, to help them create a unique self-led trail of the HMS Trincomalee. The trail incorporates authentic diary entries of Eliza Bunt, who travelled on the first voyage from Sri Lanka to England with her children and pet parrot, Poll, who will act as a mascot and guide for the trail. Poll also takes the form of a promotional plush toy to be sold at the museum.
I worked with Richard Davidson, the Learning Producer at NMRN, and a talented traditional illustrator. We worked together creating the content of the trail, using quotes from Eliza’s diary to paint a picture of what it was like onboard HMS Trincomalee. Richard drew the illustrations by hand using markers and pencils. I then edited these drawings and took care of the design, layout and typesetting, to create a fun and engaging trail guide.
A selection of original drawings by Richard Davidson, Illustrator and Learning Producer at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool
Vegas the parrot with ‘Poll’ promotional plush and Eliza’s Adventure trail at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool
“It was a pleasure working with Abby. She was patient, helpful and encouraging throughout the project. I am really happy with how the trail turned out”
“The National Museum were delighted to work with local designer, Abby Taylor on our new self-led trail brochure. She immediately picked up on what we were trying to achieve and had huge patience with us and our many alterations on the road to achieving the perfect outcome. We were inspired by her enthusiasm and commitment to the project and will certainly be using her services again.
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Press Release: Hartlepool Borough Council Railway Station Artwork
Twelve bold new pieces of artwork have gone on display at Hartlepool railway station, the designs show popular Hartlepool landmarks.
Article by Hartlepool Mail:
”Twelve bold new pieces of artwork have gone on display at Hartlepool railway station.
The designs – by Cleveland College of Art and Design graduates Abigail Taylor and Owen Smith – show popular Hartlepool landmarks, including the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Greatham Beck, the Heugh Battery Museum and Hartlepool Marina. Abigail and Owen won the competition run by Hartlepool Council to create six pieces themed on key locations in Hartlepool-based on the hey-day of railway posters of the 1920s-1950s. Once they had won the competition the council commissioned them for a further six pieces.
“The new artwork looks great and provides a stunning welcome to the town. Hundreds of thousands of visitors pass through the station each year and this is a way to showcase some of the great attractions on offer in Hartlepool.”
Pictured (L-R) are Abigail Taylor, Owen Smith, Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher and Francis Fitzgerald, from Cleveland College of Art & Design.
The artwork was also used as the backdrop for the general election in June 2017
Owen, 26, said: “We worked with our photographs and sketches of the areas to create rough collages, in pursuit of the scenic compositions of the golden age of railway poster art. “We were able to pin down some compositions right away, while others took shape organically as we worked.”
The pair remember very well the day they found out they had won the competition. Abigail said: “We were sat in a busy pub checking emails on my phone and suddenly I just flew up out of my seat and started whooping! “Of course, then I had to explain to the table of confused faces that we had won the railway art competition we’d been telling our friends about, and before we knew it, everybody was buying us shots to celebrate! Everybody was really pleased for us, then we had a wonky walk back to the station, smiling our faces o ff!” She added: “It feels very surreal to see the artwork up at the railway station in Hartlepool “The largest we’d seen the artwork until that point was as A3 printouts! I guess most of all we were just incredibly pleased to be giving something back.”
“Having studied for three years at CCAD’s Hartlepool campus, and graduating in 2015, we regard the town with a growing fondness and nostalgia! Hartlepool is a place of modest beauty that will always be special to us. It was a pleasure to revisit those locations we frequented throughout our studies, and to stand back now to admire the view. ”
Further Reading
Press Release, Hartlepool Life: Art Graduates on Right Track with Winning Designs
Press Release, Hartlepool Mail: New Artwork Brightens Hartlepool Train Station
Press Release, Northern Echo: New Artwork from CCAD Graduates on Display at Hartlepool Railway station
Blog Post: One Year On - New Products and Hartlepool Council Catch Up
Snowy Photo: photography by Jennifer Jayne Toothill (moonjenphotos) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonjenphotos/
