BENJAMIN CRAVEN & JENNY BEARD - YDG BARGE
This project was supported by Yorkshire Design Group and the artists who brought the barge to life were Benjamin Craven and Jenny Beard.
The work took place in September 2019 in the most unfavourable weather for outdoor painting.
The barge has created a bright and colourful landmark on the riverside in Leeds which is now a beacon on the most greyest Northern day and a glimmer of bright colourful sunshine when the weather is on our side.
Benjamin Craven specialises in screen-printing and digital design, using different techniques to carve out a bold signature style. Geometric lines give order to what appears to be a haphazard array of clashing colours and patterns, through the manipulation of an original image.
Jenny Beard is a Leeds-based artist working within contemporary painting – her process is built upon automatic drawing, using digital tools to create and manipulate sketches.
The pair were brought together for the collaboration by In Good Company because of the complimentary difference in their styles and their love of colour. The geometric constraints of Ben’s work combined with the fluidity of Jenny’s patterns make for truly wonderful piece of art, coupled with a 100 year old dredger boat that worked the Leeds-Liverpool Canal this piece of work has created a local landmark for many years to come.
We been assured that this is definitely the most glamorous part of its lifetime!
“In Good Company did a brilliant job of finding the right artists and working up the concept to deliver something really exciting.”
Yorkshire Design Group
“We wanted a new bold look for our barge work space but didn’t quite know how to deal with such a unique ‘canvas’. In Good Company did a brilliant job of finding the right artists and working up the concept to deliver something really exciting.
In Good Company had a clearly set out, straightforward approach to completing the project with the minimum of fuss and delay. The barge was transformed from something that went unnoticed, to having a presence that jumps out of the water at you and generates loads of attention. It has become a local landmark on the Leeds Waterfront as a result, and we’re really proud of it.”
Yorkshire Design Group