Nostalgic Talk for Abby at Bowesfield Primary School

A few weeks ago I visited my old Primary School (Bowesfield Primary School) ...it was such a highlight! I got asked to come in for Career Day to talk about my life in illustration, as one half of the creative duo "Abby+Owen". I talked about self-employment, working to your own schedule, selling artwork, creating murals, and exploring some of the ways that art is invaluable to our community.

Over 100 children wanted to come to the talk, and were bursting with excitement and questions! We touched on all sorts of stuff and I tried to be super honest about everything.

I was asked about making mistakes, comparing yourself to others, happiness, the challenges I face as a creative, and how often I draw. We also touched on my favourite anime (Death Note & Chobits), what I drew as a kid (Fairies, mermaids, animals, landscapes, intricate scenes) and "how do you know if you are an artist?" Hint: If you create and express yourself, then you are an artist. You can start calling yourself one right away...there is no gatekeeper!

I met some of my old teachers and they were just the same friendly, lovely people they were when I was at school. I even met my oldest school friend afterwards...we met at a corner shop we used to go to for sweets, and had a walk in the park because it was a nice day.

Chatting to the children, and seeing so much of my younger self in them, was a moving and nostalgic experience. I had some amazing conversations and interactions, but it's impossible to sum up!

Digital Duo up for Tees Tech Awards double

‘The first finalists have been named for the third annual Tees Tech Awards, with Abby+Owen and Sencode Cyber Security both shortlisted for two awards.

A Tees Business event in association with DigitalCity and Middlesbrough Digital, the Tees Tech Awards 2022 take place at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Thursday, April 28.

Nearly 90 entries and nominations came in across the 11 categories, with sponsors now announcing their choices for the final three for each award.

Stockton-based creative duo Abby+Owen are in the final three for both the Small Digital Business of the Year and Best Digital Project/Campaign.

Based in Middlesbrough and providing digital security solutions against the threat of cybercrime, Sencode Cyber Security are shortlisted with Abby+Owen in the Small Business category and are also finalists for the Digital Newcomer award.

Each day this week the finalists in two categories are being revealed on Tees Business social media platforms, after which five sponsors will independently score the finalists in each category, with the winners only revealed on the night of the awards.

The finalists so far are:

Digital Transformation
Sponsored by Azets
Cornerstone Visual Media Solutions
Mersen
Lemon Contact Centre

Digital Newcomer
Sponsored by Vistech Services
SeerBI
Sencode Cyber Security
Constantine Media

Small Digital Business of the Year
Sponsored by Jacksons Law Firm
Abby+Owen
Sencode Cyber Security
Juiced

Best Digital Project/Campaign
Sponsorship available
Abby+Owen
Tascomp
Vianet Group


Article written by Dave Allan for Tees Business Magazine
Link to original article

North-East Statues interview with Abby

‘Zak Newton’s George & Dragon mural was in a bit of state when Abby Taylor (one half of creative duo Abby+Owen) was commissioned to restore it. I interviewed her via email to talk about the work she did.

Restoring a mural is always a controversial project, because it involves covering the work of the original artist. However, if nothing is done the mural is simply lost forever. I think the approach taken here – protecting the original by installing the reimagined version on top – is a sensitive and sensible solution.

Of course, I will be doing an article on Zak Newton’s original (as well as his other works in Stockton) but am currently trying to find more information about the man and his work. If you knew Zak, or have any information about his works, please get in touch at northeaststatues@gmail.com or leave a message.

All images were provided by Abby, thank you to her for her time and invaluable help.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Could you tell me a bit about how you got involved with the mural?

Owen and I live in Stockton and absolutely adore The Green Dragon Yard, it’s so rich with history and charm, we’ve always loved the mural but time hasn’t been kind to it and it has deteriorated a lot in recent years. The restoration was released in 2019, this was when I was starting the business and waiting for it to be sustainable enough for Owen to join, which he did in 2020. 

The idea was initiated by Jason Maxwell at Stockton BID. He wanted to restore it and make it a proud feature of the yard once more. The installation was done by Trendsetters.

The mural was originally created for the Georgian courtyard by local artist Zak Newton who passed away in 2013 but left behind a legacy of commemorative murals across the town. We don’t know much about him, we asked around at the pub and he was a regular at The Green Dragon which is a Sam Smith’s pub, and they must have come up with the idea and commissioned him.

We wanted to protect the mural underneath, so the new piece is directly on top and installed in a way that it doesn’t damage what’s underneath and should protect it from deteriorating any further, or at least slow it down.

The piece was a fun challenge, there are so few photos of the mural we looked high and low in archives to find out what the wording above used to say so I could get it as accurate as possible. Also parts were completely worn away such as St George’s face, so creating his face was challenging. This was also an opportunity to better signpost the yard by including the text, Green Dragon Yard, which is a beautiful courtyard of repurposed historic warehouses and Georgian alleyways and houses the Green Dragon Studios, Green Dragon Pub and the newly renovated Georgian Theatre.

I carefully redrew the mural using a digital drawing tablet and added texture to the piece as well, trying to get a colour match for what the colours used to be like, and using a little bit of artistic license here and there, in particular to include the flag under the ‘And Peace Shall Rain!’ so it made the piece as one.’

See original article here: https://northeaststatues.com/2022/04/08/george-dragon-mural-restored-stockton-on-tees-abby-taylor-after-zak-newton-2019/

Sending My Artwork Worldwide - Where Can I get a Vintage View to?

In June 2018, I was commissioned by Vintage Chartered Financial Planners to make an illustration of Roseberry Topping.

The feedback they received on the artwork since its creation has been nothing short of remarkable and so rather than keep the image to themselves, they decided to share it with the world by sending ‘Vintage View’ postcards to all corners of the globe.

I loved this idea and got involved immediately by sending the postcard to family, friends, business connections and clients all over the world, from New York, Hong Kong, Africa, Spain and Switzerland to name just a few. Below is a collection of those who helped. Watch the video below to find out more about the project, or read the press release Businesses Unite with Roseberry Topping Artwork.

If you would like a postcard please contact Vintage or myself so we can get Rosie even further!

Dehli - India

Taken at Humayun tomb in Dehli by photographer and letterpress artist, Francis Fitzgerald. See his work here.

Hong Kong

Taken in Hong Kong by Laura, who is a teacher, teaching English as a foreign language.

Namibia - Africa

Taken by Kathryn at Elevation Marketing while on a tracking expedition with Ray Mears at Erindi Game Reserve, Omaruru.

Amsterdam

Taken by my cousin Megan and her partner Frazer.

Clarence Pier - Portsmouth

Taken by Anjalee Burrows, an aspiring children’s book illustrator, who just completed her first illustrated book, The Hospital Hoppities.

Kedrodasos - Crete

Taken by Malcolm Wray a professional photographer living in Crete.

Reykjavik - Iceland

Taken by Lucy and Paul who run For the Love of the North, they offer North East related Gifts, Prints and Cards which are sourced directly from the artists.

Valencia - Spain

Taken by Karen at Vintage Chartered Financial Planners on her many travels.

Leeds

Taken at the Corn Exchange in Leeds by graphic designer, Adam.

New York

Taken from the Empire State Building in New York, by illustrator Amy Dipper.

Brazil

Taken at Vale nature reserve, one of the largest protected areas of Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. Taken by Amy who is studying zoology and is an aspiring writer, currently writing for Campus Society.

Geneva - Switzerland

Taken at Jet D’eau fountain by Andrew at ProJuice.

Camden Town - London

Taken by Becci, currently studying for her PhD in Biochemical Engineering at UCL.

Yonago-shi - Japan

Taken by Chi at Call Kanda shrine while she was visiting her family.

Madrid - Spain

Taken at the park, Parque Cerro del Tío Pío, but the locals know it as Las Siete Tetas (The Seven Tits) because it was an old landfill of seven mounds, which has been turned into a park. Taken by the lovely couple, Waine and Ruben.

Corfu - Greece

Taken on holiday by my parents, Paul and Angela.

New York - Central Park

Taken by Rebecca, who lives in Canada but was on holiday in New York.

Copenhagen & Paris

Taken by Andrea who was following the U2 tour and travelling a lot.

Toronto - Canada

Taken by Vicky, who used to travel past Roseberry Topping a lot when she was living in England, and reached out on social media to me. Taken at Hudson’s Bay Company.

Algarve - Spain

Taken By Beverley Lawson, Spanish Tutor in Darlington.

London

Taken by Anne-Marie, holistic therapist at Kismet. Photos taken on the cable cars over the Thames, and next to the life-size marble statue of Queen Victoria, at Guys and St Thomas Hospital.

London

My own contribution while on a trip to London. I snapped a photo at the London Eye and a scene of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben (currently getting a makeover)

Little Loch Broom - Scotland

Taken by Michael Ritchie, a student at Edinburgh University.

Budapest

Taken by Nina York.

Wales

Mount Snowden, taken by Debbie Branson.

The Northern School of Art Makes an Impact with New Artwork

The Northern School of Art (formerly Cleveland College of Art & Design) required some illustrations of some of their buildings, most importantly their new multi-million teaching facility, 1 Church Street. The other illustrations were for one of their existing teaching facilities in Church Square, and the former Post Office building in Whitby Street which is going to be transformed into a studio and business centre for people working in the creative sector. 

I graduated from, then, Cleveland College of Art & Design, in June 2015 and was one of the artists of the recent artwork at Hartlepool Train Station, so it was fitting to create these illustrations in a similar style to show homage to that and continue to capture Hartlepool in this lovely vibrant style, as they were also involved in the train station project and want to celebrate their alumni's successes.

The Northern School of Art was recently awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework in recognition of its outstanding quality of teaching at its university-level campus in Hartlepool, making it the top art school in the UK. My experience at the university was fantastic, the facilities (such as computer suites and the print room) are easily available to everyone who studies there and the tutors I had were kind, knowledgeable and helpful throughout my studies. It was a delight to work on a project for an establishment that did so much for me when I was a student getting my First Class Honours degree in Graphic Design. I also like to support them by regularly giving talks to current students at college and university level, to give insights into my experience of the university, working as an in-house graphic designer and working for myself. 

The 1 Church Street illustration was presented to Professor Madeleine Atkins CBE, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) who officially opened the facility on the 8th November 2017, and copies were given out as invites as shown above. The three pieces have been framed and mounted and used as part of a display, but can be used for promotional purposes so may pop up on other materials in the future. The new building was funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the campus facilities include flexible studio space, two seven-metre double-height studios for photography and TV or film work, a refectory area and galley, ensuring students can access the highest level of creative industry education in the north east and across the UK for many years to come.

Church Square is an existing facility that I frequented during my time there, it is right near the Hartlepool Church Gallery and is such a unique building with lots of detail. 

Whitby Street Studios is the first part of an ambitious multi-million pound project part-funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority to regenerate a key area of Hartlepool is now underway, which will transform the area into a hub for creative industries. Called The BIS, the centre will encourage business start-ups in the creative industries sector and provide specialist support for them.

There has been an influx of interest in businesses wanting their own illustration of their place of work for decorative and promotional uses, or even to use on their own merchandise! If you would like to inquire about commissioning a bespoke illustration of your building or place of work, please email hello@iamabbytaylor.com or fill in the contact form on the Contact page.

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/