Splash of Colour

York’s long and rich history is evident everywhere you go in the city, from its strong ties to the Romans where it saw incredible prosperity to its strong Viking influences . However, not all the city’s heritage is as well-known as others. The wealth of the city has often come at peak times through empires utilising York as a major trading point, achieved through the confluence of the various rivers, which connect York to the sea and world beyond.

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Whether it be the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings or during the mediaeval era, through to the more recent years of the Industrial Revolution, York has taken much of its trade and wealth from the seas. York’s traders collected at merchant halls through commissioning captains and boats to find new trading routes to source goods and spices, which led to a prosperous and bustling city. Market street and Feasegate have acted as a pivotal network point, facilitating traffic and trade between the River Ouse and the wider city.

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This piece, Neon Beasts by artist Tom Lewis, brings York’s marine and exploratory history into focus. Intended for all audiences, Splash of Colour: Neon Beasts is a place to stop, to ponder, to laugh, to photograph, to share, to enjoy.

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The story behind the installation…

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Through Splash of Colour, the York BID and Art of Protest Projects have brought an immersive visual scenery into focus, which relates back to York’s history and relationship with its waterways, using vibrant colours and imagery to create a modern and unique piece of street art. Cast your gaze on the Neon Beasts and their environment from different angles of the mural and absorb the magnificent scenery as you seek out all of the underwater creatures.

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Sit and relax in the space and read on to learn more about the relevance and importance of the seas and oceans, which have long been part of the pathways of York’s history, bringing in people from far and wide. Come back another day, and we promise you’ll find something new to spot and ponder every time…

York’s long and rich history is evident everywhere you go in the city, from its strong ties to the Romans where it saw incredible prosperity to its strong Viking influences . However, not all the city’s heritage is as well-known as others.

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The wealth of the city has often come at peak times through empires utilising York as a major trading point, achieved through the confluence of the various rivers, which connect York to the sea and world beyond. Whether it be the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings or during the mediaeval era, through to the more recent years of the Industrial Revolution, York has taken much of its trade and wealth from the seas. York’s traders collected at merchant halls through commissioning captains and boats to find new trading routes to source goods and spices, which led to a prosperous and bustling city.

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About the Artist: Tom Lewis

Tom Lewis is a British artist who creates layered paintings and art prints that are a colourful, playful and whimsical mix of traditional and digital techniques. Usually starting each work with a pencil or marker pen, Tom then turns to mediums such as acrylic paint, aerosol cans, airbrushes, varnish, cardboard and digital imagery to tell his story.

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Tom creates artwork that blends elements of ancient mythology, traditional oriental design and contemporary street art to embody a unique and instantly recognisable style. His characters populate his own invented universe in an attempt to create meaning from a patchwork of nonsensical stories.

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Artist Q&A

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Who is Tom Lewis and why does he create art?

Nice and easy one to start! I think the first answer changes weekly and I have no idea about the second, but if you really need snappy answers I’ll go with ‘Living Legend’ and ‘Fame and Glory’.

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What inspired you to create the neon beasts series, that then joined together into the mural that you created for Splash of Colour?

I’m primarily interested in the nature of meaning, what it is and where it comes from, but I’m also a big fan of trying to make beautiful things. Animals are an incredible tool to both tap into people's psyches and let me play with aesthetics. Most importantly, I absolutely love a far fetched and ill researched animal fact. Can’t get enough. When I’ve been releasing these neon beasts as prints, the sloppy research leading to the description I put on social media may have been my favorite bit.

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Thinking about your Neon Beasts…what do these creatures mean to you? Have you felt a connection to these works on a deeper level?

I’m more interested in people’s relationships with animals, and their totemic aspect, than the creatures themselves. I think I do have quite a deep connection to them because they have helped illuminate some part of the meaning puzzle that I’m trying to explore, rather than the fact that I am passionate about flamingos. Flamingo’s are ok aren’t they? A solid 6/10. But the reason Derick from Guildford absolutely bloody loves them is waaaaaay more interesting.

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Does having your art viewed in a public realm feel different than exhibiting at a gallery or selling your art to an online market?

Context matters depending on what you’re trying to accomplish but on the whole it’s usually just lovely to get it in front of people! My early experience of market stalls is that you get a more honest opinion when your work is stumbled across. I have always relished that.

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Is there a project that you are working on at the moment that you’re excited about?

I’m excited about a distant collection of paintings that should be ready for a show next year at some point.

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In one word, how would you describe your art practice and why?

Whimsical? I just read a definition that said ‘playful or odd but in an endearing way’. I think there might be more to whimsy than that, but it’s a good place to start…