Press Release: Putting the real ale trail on the map

‘A talented artist has designed and illustrated Ale trail map and guide to the town’s real ale pubs. Abby Taylor was approached by Stockton BID (business improvement district) to produce an illustrated ale Trail to the real ale pubs in the town.

Abby was asked by BID to produce the new map and guide “with a little more flair” to tantalise prospective drinkers. She said: “ I was tasked with producing 11 original illustrations of the pubs around Stockton, from cheerful town centre pubs and vibrant little bars, to the beautiful micro pub is tucked away in the town’s Cultural Quarter.”

Abby added: the illustrations represent Stockton as a true haven for those of us who enjoy a great pint of ale. I had the pleasure of visiting each of these pubs to take reference photographs for the illustrations. Eleven may sound like rather a lot but you don’t have to try them on a single day!

She designed the foldout Ale Trail Map, along with a beautiful brand identity for the trial itself, including a striking logo, and a pattern featuring bottles and pints of ale.

Stockton BID manager, Jason Maxwell, said the commission came out about as previous versions of the ale Trail had done the job, but were lacking in visual appeal.

He said: “Stockton has a growing reputation for micropubs and I wanted to do something to support them, so we decided on the Ale Trail. It was first done a few years ago, I wanted it brought right up to date with a cool twist - so commissioned Abby. I am really proud of what we are put together and I think the pubs like them too. “

Anyone wanting to pick up a copy of the Stockton Ale Trail, should just pop into any of the 11 pubs on the trail: The Golden Smog, The Thomas Sheraton, The Storytellers, Lucifers, Musiclounge, the Georgian Theatre, Hope & Union, The Wasps Neat, Ivy House, The Sun Inn and The Royal Oak.

Abby has previously worked with BID on replacing the George and Dragon illustration in Stockton’s Green Dragon Yard and producing illustrations for the renovated Globe Theatre on the High Street.’

-Article by Ian Monaghan for Stockton & Billingham Life

Tensile Strength (or How to Survive at Your Wit’s End) Tour Posters are Looking Sharp

Between October 2018 and September 2019, Holly Gallagher is touring her latest show Tensile Strength (or How to Survive at Your Wit’s End). Holly is a theatre-maker, director and facilitator who was keen to create a recognisable brand for herself and have promotional materials for her shows that will stand out from the crowd. The goal was to create bold promotional items, but also set a distinct style, colour palette, font choices etc. so Holly’s future shows can follow suit.

The show was produced and commissioned by ARC Stockton, and funded by Arts Council England, and supported as part of the Third Angel Mentoring Scheme 2017 in association with Sheffield Theatres.

Tensile Strength (or How to Survive at Your Wit’s End) tells the story of three different characters all experiencing stress. The stage is full of buckets which act as a metaphor for stress, at one point in the show, the audience is asked: Imagine you have a bucket; and all the things you have to cope with in life as water going into that bucket. Raise your hand if your bucket is A) Empty B) Half full C) Overflowing.

After discussing the show over a hot drink with Holly, we decided an illustration involving an overflowing bucket would be perfect for the promotional materials. I included the show description ‘A Show About: Stress, fear, pressure ,sadness, mental health, when things are all a Bit Too Much and then the cat goes missing’ within the bucket which is spiralling into an abyss, much like how it feels when you get so stressed you can’t think straight. Holly also received brand guidelines which give her the colours, fonts etc. she needs to continue using her brand online.

“I have been a fan of Abby’s work for some time now, and have always particularly loved the boldness, detail, and colours used in her work. So when I needed a designer to work on my new show’s poster it was a no-brainer for me to approach Abby.

The process of working with Abby has been a real pleasure! This was my first time using a graphic designer to create content for a show, as well as the largest tour for a piece of work I had put together. So my timeframes, deadlines, and expectations were continually changing. Abby was understanding and flexible with every change that happened, and has been more than generous with her time and dedication to the project.

The final design Abby created is a beautiful piece of artwork and has really done an effective job in advertising the show with countless people complimenting its posters, flyers, and social media images! I’m beyond happy with the professional finish Abby has gifted my show with and am so pleased to have a proper brand design for my future work now too.

I would recommend anyone to Abby for graphic design work if they want a high quality, fast, flexible, and personable experience!”

— Holly Gallagher

Holly Gallagher’s stage set up for Tensile Strength (or How to Survive at your Wit’s End). Photo by Davey Poremba

Press Release: Hartlepool Borough Council Railway Station Artwork

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.”

— Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Leader of Hartlepool Council

View fullsize

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 off!” 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. ”

— Owen Smith

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/