Welcome to POP ART
POP ART is a place-making project delivered by Bedford Creative Arts in collaboration with Artist & Producer Talia Giles from Pride Of Place Bedford to enliven Bedford’s empty high street shops through art.
There are currently around 50 empty units in Bedford town centre. POP ART aims to harness the talent of Bedford’s creative community to rejuvenate the town and showcase local artistic talent.
POP – an acronym for Pride of Place – will provide artists with empty shop windows to display their work; turning unused spaces into loved spaces.
Find out more about the project and all the artists involved to date here.
How it works
BCA negotiates permission with an empty shop’s landlord to exhibit art in their shop window until a new tenant is found. The letting agent will continue to promote the vacant unit throughout the project.
BCA invites local artists to apply for exhibition space.
Artists are matched with appropriate windows and provided with a minimum 2 week-long exhibition period.
Artists install their work using their own resources and remove it after the exhibition ends.
An example empty window space: 5B The Arcade, Bedford
Current Exhibitions
L-R: Marisa Straccia, Kristina Bullen from The Circus of Illustration, & Robyn Cayley
THE CIRCUS OF ILLUSTRATION & ROBYN CAYLEY
20 HaRpur Street, Bedford, MK40 1LB
The Circus of Illustration was formed in 2011 and is an informal collective of Bedfordshire based artists that volunteer their time and efforts to promoting illustration locally. In 2023 The Circus of Illustration commissioned a collection of new illustrations inspired by Bedford’s High Street. They worked with experienced and aspiring artists linked to Bedford, pairing them as mentors and mentees to nurture the creative industry in our town.
This set of new illustrations were made available in a limited edition zine called Drawing Bedford Together. It launched at a free drawing event in Harpur Square on Saturday, 19 August 2023.
This project has been made possible through the Bedford High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme, thanks to funding from Historic England, in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Council England.
Website: circusofillustration.com / IG: @thecircusofillustration
Robyn Cayley is a self-taught artist who grew up in and around Bedford and has lived in the town centre for 18 years. Robyn uses ink and watercolour to capture the ‘face’ of buildings - portraits of the front elevation that allow the viewer to see and appreciate something that we may otherwise walk past or overlook.
Often, we simply do not notice the architecture around us, just focussing on what’s inside, be it a shop, pub or communal space. Robyn’s paintings represent a building’s identity, and a reminder of the urban beauty around us.
Luanna Flammia outside Wellbeing Media Studio
LUANNA FLAMMIA
Wellbeing Media Studio, 22 St. Mary’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0AS
Luanna is an abstract artist from Bedford, and studied Mixed Media Fine Art at the University of Westminster. Luanna’s work aims to depict the perspective of looking through and beyond nature, as inspired by the Hudson River Artists. During her final year she made her first debut with work selected to display and auction at the corporate firm Traver Smiths, St Pauls, London.
In lockdown, Luanna’s mum received a cancer diagnosis, so she moved home from her art consultant job in London. In response to her mums cancer diagnosis, Luanna previously teamed up with The Lewis Foundation creating A4 paper paintings and raising £1000.
“Creating and doing something positive became my therapy during the difficult times of the covid lockdown. I was painting in my studio daily, focusing on developing my signature style of layering mixed media, infused with 24ct gold and silver leaf.”
“I regularly exhibit at Bedford Flea (the best Art market I know) and collaborated with Homesense, Walmart & Very selling my art prints in stores and online, across the UK, Europe and Canada. Last year, I embarked on solo shows at both Manchester & Harrogate Art Fairs and now I am working on my most recent collection of A3 Limited Edition Prints and original paintings, designs inspired by my current and post-covid travels to the French Alps, India and Germany’s Black Forest.
Become a POP Art Artist
ARTISTS - APPLY HERE
This is a fantastic way to raise your profile in Bedford’s town centre – showcasing your work to hundreds of people every day.
If you are an artist interested in applying for an exhibition space, please complete our online form to be added to our waiting list. If we can match you to a space, we’ll invite you to prepare an exhibition although please be aware – spaces are often found last minute and you have to act quickly to secure your place.
Unit 5 Midland Road
LANDLORDS/COMMERCIAL AGENTS
If you control an empty unit in the town centre we can provide exhibitions and pop-up activity as part of a rates mitigation scheme or simply as a way to keep your unit looking clean and attractive whilst its vacant – deterring vandalism & fly-posting.
We can ensure that your agent’s details remain prominently displayed throughout with a processional window vinyl and you can continue to undertake viewings whilst art is in the space. A short licence period means that you can easily terminate the Licence at short notice as soon as a tenant is agreed.
If you’re able to offer a unit for an arts exhibition space or a creative pop-up programme or art studio, please contact our Director Elaine Midgley to find out more elainem@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk 01234 818670.
We’d like to thank our agents and landlords for making this project a reality.
Past Exhibitions
CHLOE GEORGE, DARYL GILLHAM & BEYOND
20 HaRpur Street, Bedford, MK40 1LB
Chloe George is a portrait and fashion photographer from Bedford. Chloe is inspired by the styles of subcultures, perceptions of Hollywood, and songs that evoke energies in her imagined characters. “I always aim to write a story with my images, evoking an emotion and warmth that is connected to my love for film and music, thanks to a degree in Film & TV and a family of music lovers. Seeking out a sense of softness in the soul of my subject, I use my images to write stories for myself, and others to write their own.”
Website: chloegeorge.myportfolio.com / IG: @chloegeorgecreative
Daryl Gilliam is an illustrator and experienced comic book designer with a passion for storytelling. Through his work he builds new worlds and new narratives. The work on display highlights his talent across storyboards, individual layered pieces and more abstract work. A recent creative role led to a resurgence in painting and drawing through YouTube, concept art techniques and the iPad. Daryl has techno-joy and will happily test new technology and techniques in an effort to further his art.
Website: artstation.com/dreams_on_toast / IG: @dreams_on_toast / Youtube
Beyond: “I try not to take art so seriously because it’s not meant to be, and if it is meant for anything it’s to highlight real life topics: from war to more personal experiences. I try to convey a mixture of comedy alongside highlighting real life problems as I think it’s a great way to allow you to question the issues more. I mostly use stencils and spray paint, but I’ll happily use anything I get my hands on!”
AIDEN DONNELLAN - YEAR OF THE DRAGON
Unit 6, Church Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1LQ
Aiden Donnellan is a creative resident of Bedford, working predominantly as a Tattoo Artist within town at his new studio ShuHaRi Tattoo on Fosterhill Road. This window is in celebration of Chinese New Year on 10 February - The Year of The Dragon. Heavily inspired by Chinese and Japanese culture, Aiden’s intricate pen and brushwork is truly beautiful.
Aiden’s skills stretch across many different creative mediums, from painting murals for businesses to painting the individual spray cans themselves. If you'd like to contact Aiden for a commission or for a print of one of his paintings, get in touch with him via his email: adtattoos96@gmail.com
Giacomo Verdura
Marta Plizga & Giacomo Verdura
20 Hapur Street, Bedford, MK40 1LB
Marta Plizga is an illustrator and visual artist based in Oakley. Her artwork is a dynamic interaction between chaos and order, reflecting the depth of the human experience. Marta embraces the unpredictable nature of the creative process, and the spontaneous way in which she uses her mediums leads to unexpected discoveries and work full of vitality.
For this latest portrait project, throughout 2023 Marta has been searching for unique people who have caught her attention and portrayed them in her own distinct way, which so far has helped further shape her practice and artist voice.
Marta Plizga Website / Instagram
Giacomo Verdura is a Bedford based emerging artist specialising in figurative mixed media illustrations and paintings. Using bold colour, shapes and expressive textures to depict interests in heritage, Italian culture, literature and Greek mythology, Giacomo depicts small mundane histories and gives them their own visual narrative.
“I’m inspired by the small moments in life, like the glass of wine that really hit the spot after a meal. I like to accumulate these small moments and give them their own history. I often remember these moments as I’m painting and just get the shapes and textures down and then let the process guide the narrative and visuals.”
AMANDA SILK & eGLE VOSYLIUTE KHAN
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Amanda Silk is a ceramicist, artist and maker working from her garden studio in Bedfordshire. She graduated from Brighton University with a BA (Hons) in Wood, Metal, Ceramics & Plastics and her practice now predominantly involves ceramics, glass, wood and drawing.
“I have a passion for creating, the making process in in my DNA. I manipulate clay material to reflect our personalities and subtle expressions. My sculptures often visualise an inner calm, strong survivors our marks and wrinkles tell a story of our life”.
Amanda Silk Ceramics / Instagram / Facebook
Egle Vosyliute Khan is a Lithuanian jewellery designer and craft supplier living in Bedford. Her work is detailed and intricate and the pieces are individual, wearable works of art.
Crafts and beads are her meditation and sanity leveller in life. It all started after a diagnosis of hearing loss and longterm illness in her teenage years. Egle remembers using an old necklace of her mother’s and finding some old wire in her fathers garage and created her first butterfly. After a journey of learning via online courses, she also taught crafts at the local youth centre to inspire more souls.
Eglantine’s World Etsy / Egle’s Instagram @eglevosyliutekhan
CHARLOTTE ALDRED & CONOR CHESTERMAN
Unit 6, Church Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1LQ
Charlotte Aldred is a digital and analogue photographer from Bedford, and currently studying BA Fine Art with Contemporary Cultural Theory at the University of Leeds.
Her practise aims to capture different experiences that are come across within the worlds of large towns and cities. By discovering and exploring the urban landscape, she explores the layers of inhabiting the city (historical, cultural, and political) whilst also paying attention to how light affects the unseen corners and crevices of our society.
Website/ Instagram @charlottealdred_art
Conor Chesterman is a mixed-media artist and recent Fine Art graduate of University of Hertfordshire.
Inspired the media he consumes, Conor is not afraid to experiment with fusing different techniques, and in turn, exploring the depth of his subject. At Unit 6, you’ll find two paintings that are very personal to Conor, full of rich texture, and multiple layers.
Greta Andreica
Wellbeing Media Studio, 22 St. Mary’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0AS
Artist Greta Andreica was born in Dobrin, Romania and studied fine-arts in Bucharest. Starting as an illustrator in the cinematographic industry, it was only later in life from 65 that Greta fearlessly embarked on a new artistic journey, discovering innovative ways to express herself through her art.
Now living in Bedford, Greta’s work is bold and captivating, delving in to themes of freedom, protest, honesty and truth, urging viewers to reflect on their own beliefs and embrace their individual voices. The exhibit will be in place until at least the end of January 2024 and has a striking presence on St. Mary’s Street.
Clare Gregory
Clare Gregory
Unit 6, Church Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1LQ
Clare Gregory is a Fine Art graduate of Norwich University of the Arts. Being a chronic illness sufferer and having a keen interest in the use of arts for health and wellbeing, her practice aims to shed light on the experiences a chronic illness sufferer goes through whether that be physically, such as chronic pain and surgery, or mentally and emotionally.
“I find my practice to be fundamental in working through emotions and experiences surrounding my chronic illnesses, a way of voicing the pain that would otherwise go unnoticed. Art is a powerful tool for raising awareness and encouraging needed conversations, I hope to use my artwork as a method of communicating with those who are enduring similar experiences to me and even with those who aren’t”.
Clare uses her own body, in particular the scars on her abdomen and belly button from Laparoscopic surgery to both celebrate the marks left behind, but also to to represent the fight it took to finally get a diagnosis, all helping Endometriosis to become better understood.
Katie ArakElian & Ava Corsini
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Katie Arakelian is an Irish Art teacher and printmaking artist based in the Bedford area. Since graduating with a BA in Fine Art and Education from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in 2021, she has continued to further her practice by creating realistic pen and ink drawings of Architectural structures from around the UK, Ireland, and rest of the world.
Specialising in screen printing and drawing, Katie has always been drawn to, and interested in architecture and it remains a recurring theme in her work.
Ava Corsini is a skilled Bedfordshire jeweller, whose handmade jewellery brand is MonAvart. Her jewellery collections feature hammered pieces inspired by the natural textures that surrounds us. Every single piece of jewellery is crafted with care and love.
Ava aims to make jewellery that is not only beautiful, but also meaningful & sustainable. Her MonAvart brand is proud to use recycled precious metals, making ethical sourcing a key part of the jewellery making story.
Katie Arakelian Instagram / Etsy @printerkatie || MonAvart website / Instagram
Sew N Sew - The Archaeology Of Now
20 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 1LB
Bromham based textile artist Sew N Sew uses the process of gathering confessional comments and street photography in the public arena as their inspiration to produce sculpture, assemblages, soft sculpture, hangings, collage, and installation.
The cultural practises and icons of the feminine, ephemera, and textiles of the domestic are their medium. Sewn Sew is interested in exploring the cultural associations of these gathered elements, as archaeological markers of contemporary culture.
Patrycja FlontowicZ & Elysia Johnston
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
A join exhibit between these two artists, with a hint of dark arts celebrating Halloween.
Patrycja Flontowicz (Ratto Patto) is a Bedfordshire based artist, specialising in pencil portraits and printmaking. Since first experimenting with print in 2016, her favourite method is lino printing.
She is greatly inspired by feminism, the taboo and gothic architecture. Since studying Fine Art at Bedford college, Patrycja has recently collaborated with local businesses and creatives.
IG: Patrycja Flontowicz / Etsy: Patrycja Flontowicz
Bedford based artist Elysia Johnston’s work centres on gothic still life. Her dark bouquets of wilted flowers and skull studies range from oil paintings to digital artwork.
Holding a Fine Art degree from Leeds Arts University, Elysia has participated in group exhibitions nationally and has been featured regularly in independent art and poetry publications. Follow Elysia’s artist name @mercilyss
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Alexandra Andreica
Born in Zalau, Romania, Alexandra grew up and was inspired by watching her mother paint. Alexandra’s artistic journey led her to study Fine Arts at the prestigious “University of Oradea,”. Her love for figurative painting, especially portraits, forms the core of her artistic expression.
Alexandra’s works are a captivating exploration of the human form and emotion, each piece resonating with a unique blend of colors and strokes that convey a profound sense of depth and feeling. Her art evokes a range of emotions and invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences and memories.
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Charlie Prior
Charlie is an aspiring children's illustrator based in Bedford. He enjoys using many mediums including traditional drawing, ink, oil pastels and foam. However his favourite media to use is by far digital.
Charlie has been creating his whole life using art as a way to understand and communicate to the world around him. He fondly remembers his first art set gifted by Santa When Charlie was three. Now he spends most of his time cuddling with his two pups writing and illustrating his first picture book.
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Vicky Paul
Vicky Paul is contemporary mixed media artist who creates powerful vibrant work conceptualising that which exists but cannot be seen. Her work explores human connection, nature, metaphysics and Universal energy. By infusing her paintings with healing frequencies and intentions, she hopes to inspire positive transformation and lift the energy of your space.
As an international selling artist, Vicky’s paintings and commissions are part of private collections in the UK, USA, Canada, Japan and Dubai. She runs intuitive painting workshops, is a live event artist, DJ and author.
5 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1PL
Lisa Price
For Lisa Price, painting skies was the next step on the journey towards finding inner peace. After seeing some breathtaking Hubble space images, she began painting nebulae - at first with brushes, but then painting with just fingers for a more ethereal effect.
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Lauren Saunders-Love
Lauren Saunders-Love is a fine art photographer based in Bedford. She recently graduated with a first-class degree in photography from the University of Northampton.
Her approach to photography involves finding new or unexplored viewpoints, instead of documenting what merely exists and often features staged setups.
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS
Jacqui Saunders-Love
Jacqui Saunders-Love is a paper sculptor and experienced art educator based in Bedford. In 2014, inspired by a trip to Iceland, she started working with paper, exploring the versatility of the medium which saw her work evolve into 3D.
Her work is influenced by European folk and fairy tales which she retells with a feminist narrative. Each piece is based on a real location or historic costume allowing exploration of place, memory and identity.
5 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1PL: Until Tues 11 July
Jasmine Murray
Unsocial Media_ is a series of images which explores the all pervasive, modern phenomenon of social media, where the lines between reality and real life are increasingly blurred.
5B The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS: Until 19 July
Sarah Payling
Sarah Payling is a local artist and printmaker who works using a range of printmaking techniques including linocut, screen printing and dry point etching.
Sarah loves to experiment with materials to create eye-catching portraits and this display is a mix of colourful lino cuts and screen prints.