A commission to design
a wallpaper
for the Albion pub, Hastings
for the Albion pub, Hastings
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| The Albion wallpaper by Melissa White |
Whilst Hastings Old Town has been
heralded the new Shoreditch-on-sea The Albion pub at its heart
had become a rather dilapidated boozer in need of an update. Straddling
pedestrianised George Street and the seafront prom it was built as the Albion
Hotel complete with stables in the 1830’s.
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| The Albion pub before its 2015 renovation |
The new owners, Adam Daly and Bob
Tipler have recently been revitalised Hastings’ music scene by establishing
popular music festivals in a town rich in musicians and aficionados. Now, in
need of a musical HQ, they have taken on this ambitious transformation and
engaged local artisans to give the venue something unique.
When I was approached to propose a
wallpaper design that epitomised the spirit of Albion I was delighted to take
on a project in my hometown.
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| The seafront bar before renovations |
The space for the wallpaper was
high-up between the room's panelled walls and a cornice so it made sense to
design a landscape to run around the room as a frieze.
Drawing inspiration from 18th
century painted wall hangings and tapestry cartoons I designed a bucolic
scene of rolling hills and towering trees. A watery blue/green colour palette was chosen to keep the bar where it would hang, light and airy with an indirect nod to its seafront location.
My references had been populated with
exotic birds and distant Italianate buildings so I removed those to
make the scene look more like home. A windmill, a bridge and, as requested by
the clients, our local Hastings castle in homage to 1066
Country.
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| Detail showing Hastings Castle |
At early design meetings we had envisaged hunting scenes with wild boar, dogs and all sorts going on but
as we progressed a calmer more serene mood developed with animals going about
their business unhindered. Deer and stags, a dashing hare and a rabbit (spot him
in the hedges).
The sky is populated with birds whilst a tawny owl surveys
all from his tree.
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| Detail showing stags and a rabbit |
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| Detail showing crows and an owl |
The Process:
As with much of my design work, I
collect my ideas and references together in Photoshop where I create the composition and the repeat (in this case a simple horizontal
repeat). Then it's off to my studio to translate into paint. I do this initially
using acetates and an overhead projector to guide me with the general structure
of the design. then I work from sketches and references to complete the
detail.
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| Studio setup |
The scene was painted with my favourite fresco secco technique whereby I build up a plastered surface over
hessian and paint on this before rubbing back and distressing the paintwork to
"settle in" the patina.
Finally the flexible substrate
is attached to a plywood panel to reinforce it.
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| At studio painting the design |
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| Adding the finishing touches to the artwork mounted on its panel |
Next the panel goes off to be
professionally scanned in London and comes back to me as a huge digital file.
Back in front of my computer I set to work making any final adjustments
to the paintwork and mending the repeat so that it joins up perfectly left to
right.
A few proofs later and the client has selected the more muted of the colourways options.
A few proofs later and the client has selected the more muted of the colourways options.
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| colour proofs |
I then scale the file up to its
final 140cm height (having painted it at 60%) and zap it over to my fabulous printers who work their magic on it. A few days later it arrives
at The Albion in a continuous 20m long roll of beautifully printed wallpaper.
The finish we went for was a lustrous mica paper and it was expertly hung just
days before the grand re-opening.
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| Mica finish wallpaper being hung in the seafront bar |
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| Wallpaper in situ |
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| Wallpaper in situ |
There is still work being carried out at the Albion. Local metal artist extraordinaire Leigh Dyer, who made the bar stools and zinc bar tops is currently creating impressive chandeliers for the coved ceilings. He also made the front signage based on the artwork I was commissioned to design for the pub's branding:
The Albion is open every day and plays host to the best bands in Hastings. Keep up with events via their Facebook page and Website.
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| Signage by Leigh Dyer based on my brand design graphics |
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| Leigh's metalwork: components for the signage and oak leaves for the chandeliers (bottom left) |
The Albion is open every day and plays host to the best bands in Hastings. Keep up with events via their Facebook page and Website.
My Albion wallpaper is available to
order p.o.a.
I am very happy to discuss bespoke
wallpapers & fabrics...it's one of my favourite thing to do :)
.jpg "Test pieces for the final painted cloth")
.JPG "Melissa painting Bacchus artwork")
