Artist creates eye-catching hoarding to reflect the Grange Farm Estate community
Posted 18/11/2020
A new hoarding artwork has been unveiled at Higgins Partnerships’ Grange Farm site in South Harrow by West London artist, Sarah Blackwell (26). Sarah has taken inspiration from the Grange Farm Estate and its surroundings and created an eye-catching design which reflects different elements of the community.
Sarah comments, “I was approached by Higgins and My Yard and asked if I would be interested in creating a design for the hoarding which would reflect the Grange Farm Estate community and I jumped at the opportunity. Over the years I have worked closely with some of the young people on the estate through My Yard, holding art and dance based projects and was keen to produce something that would bring together everything that represents Grange Farm.
“With a blank canvas I created a design using each letter of Grange Farm to link to different aspects of the community and activities that have taken place. The tag line ‘Building Better Lives’ has also been included because it emphasises that everything that is being done on the estate is helping to give people a better future.”
Sarah’s design has a neutral backdrop of a field, which relates back to a time when Grange Farm was once a field and the two base colours allow the letters to really stand out.
G – handprints - showing how everyone is doing this together and are connected.
R – flowers representing the flowers My Yard distributed to the community
A – shows how the young people got involved and shared hot food with the community
N – depicts the music workshops and jams held by My Yard
G – rugby ball flying – which represents the rugby sessions that took place on the estate
E – the surplus food on the estate that was shared and used to produce something else.
F – shows letters detailing the different activities that have taken place
A – bunch of fruit and vegetables, representing the promotion of healthy eating
R – reflects the creative workshops and the artwork the community have made
M – representing the multicultural community at Grange Farm and the togetherness of all the different cultures.
Amy Ross, Head of Social Value at Higgins Partnership comments, “We are really impressed with the design that Sarah has created. Initially we hoped to work with the young people on the estate through My Yard to create a design but due to lockdown restrictions we were unable to progress so it’s wonderful that Sarah has been able to take on the project and produce something which is so colourful and positive.”
Higgins is building the £22.5 million Grange Farm Estate in South Harrow for Harrow Council which will provide 68 much needed brand new council homes and 21 shared ownership properties with parking, a new substation, external works and services. This forms part of the overall masterplan that will eventually provide 574 new homes, of which half will be affordable, along with revamping the estate which has long been in need of regeneration.