Town centre gets artistic new look (From Free Press Series)

Town centre gets artistic new look

THE new look to Chepstow town centre is to be heavily influenced by art - in the hope that the variety of the artwork will attract old and new visitors to the area.

In preparation for the plans, officers from Monmouthshire County Council approached Cywaith Cymru to look at the potential for public art as part of the scheme.

And subsequently, Howard Bowcott, an artist from Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales, was appointed as the principal artist.

Mr Bowcott has worked on similar regeneration schemes in Bargoed and Tonypandy and more locally, he created the Caldicot Cross and War Memorial in 1995.

He, along with three other artists are in the process of creating a distinctive series of works in a variety of media and styles which, as he says will promote a vibrant and buzzing feel to Chepstow town centre.

The following provides an insight into the work that has been going on behind the scenes on the various aspects of the artwork that is soon to be seen in Chepstow.

Such artwork will include 'The Boatman' by Andr Wallace, a design that caused a great deal of conversation, even before the sculpting had begun.

'The Big Frieze', a spectacular measuring 45 metres in length and half a metre high. relief stone carving, containing many references to Chepstow's past and particularly to its role as a market place. Contained within the curved walls of Beaufort Square, will be a frieze.

Included in the 70 blocks that are currently being carved by Tom Clarke are bottles, jugs, vegetables and dairy produce as well as objects relating to fishing and shipbuilding. On the Bank Street side of the walls, approximately 25 metres of text including poetry and historic quotes, is to be sandblasted into the stone.

A spokesman for the Regeneration Working Group - made up of representatives from Monmouthshire County Council, Chepstow Town Council and Chepstow Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, said: "We remain confident that the Scheme will bring about the much needed boost that Chepstow needs.

"The various strands of artwork are fundamental to the scheme's success and we hope that they will be cherished by the people of Chepstow, for many years to come."