Tag Archives: Artist

Hydrotherapy Pool North Screen in production at Proto Studios

Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping

Work is now in progress at the brilliant Proto Glass Studios on the first stage of screen printing ceramic colour for of the NORTH SCREEN. We are collaborating with Proto Studios, specialist Architectural Glass Decorators on the production of 46sqm of screen printed, sandblasted & etched architectural glass screens for the new Hydrotherapy Pool & Therapies Unit for the RUH and RNHRD in Bath commissioned by Art at the Heart. The artwork is presented as an abstracted landscape running over both the North & the East Screens of the Pool Room – a way of encapsulating all disparate elements that have inspired my work into something engaging for the viewer, which will changes throughout the day in response to levels of daylight and direct sun.

Both the RUH & RNHRD Hospital sites were originally set in, and adjacent to open fields and expansive views of countryside. Easy to imagine then how beneficial this must have been to those patients and staff who experienced this.

It is now commonly understood that exposure to natural spaces, planting and nature within medical and healing environments is of great benefit and assists in the recovery and positive experience of patients and staff alike .

This landscape is populated with recognisable motifs, such as flowers, deer and trees, woven together with abstracted forms and simple repeating patterns. Local landmarks such as Kelston Round Hill also feature, as do references to the architectural decoration and built heritage of The Min and its archaic Roman Mosaics. However, the most visible motif perhaps is water, and more explicitly, the gestural movement of water as shaped by those taking treatment in the Hydrotherapy Pool. A shape made in water informed by the movement of a hand or leg. Abstractions of steam or mist appear to hover in this landscape. Water is contained within a bowl or pool. An elegant but dynamic abstract splash of water drifts across the whole of the East Screen. The connection to hot springs and flowing waters has shaped Bath into the World Heritage Site we see today.

Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping
Production at Proto Studios. Image: Christopher Tipping

Decoration for the Hydrotherapy Pool Glazing …hello deer !

I imagined an abstracted landscape as a positive  way of encapsulating all that has inspired my commission for the Hydrotherapy Pool glazed screens. (There are approximately 46sqm of glass combined in both screens).

Both Hospital sites were originally set in and adjacent to open fields and expansive views of countryside. Easy to imagine then how beneficial this must have been to those patients and staff who experienced this.

It is now commonly understood that exposure to natural spaces, planting and nature within medical and healing environments is of great benefit and assists in the recovery and positive experience of patients and staff alike.

Deer with Roman pattern. Research Images developing patterns from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping

This glass landscape is populated with recognisable motifs, such as flowers, deer and trees, woven together with abstract forms and repeating patterns. Local landmarks such as Kelston Round Hill also feature, as do references to the architectural decoration and built heritage of The Min and its archaic Roman Mosaics. However, the most visible motif perhaps is water, and more explicitly, the gestural movement of water as shaped by those taking treatment in the Hydrotherapy Pool. A shape made in water informed by the movement of a hand or leg. Abstractions of steam or mist appear to hover in this landscape. Water is contained within a bowl or pool. An elegant but dynamic abstract splash of water drifts across the whole of the East Screen. The connection to hot springs and flowing waters has shaped Bath into the World Heritage Site we see today.

I have been so impressed with the positivity and care of the medical staff delivering these services, I wanted to evoke this caring nature with visual clues within the work, which may express this. Growing flowers and creating gardens is a nurturing vocation. Water is an elemental part of this.  Historically, The Min was built upon the grounds of the first Theatre in Bath, and the later extension built upon the formal gardens of Rectory House. Adjacent to the ChapeI at the rear of The Min is a small but lovely garden. Also in Bath, Gibbes Garden was a 15th Century apothecary garden growing medicinal herbs.

Combe Park had formerly been the site of the Bath War Hospital built in 1916 to provide beds and medical services for WW1 Casualties. There was a small pond and a stream ran nearby. Patients and staff were encouraged to grow and maintain flower gardens & were rewarded with prizes.

I was offered a session at the Hydrotherapy Pool at The Min as a way of understanding a little more about the impact of water as a treatment. I am not a patient – I cannot experience this as many do on a daily basis, not I am I in the process of healing or tempering acute conditions. Patients vary from those with lifelong conditions, such as Ankylosing spondylitis and others suffering from chronic pain, to physiotherapy in the pool following operations or broken limbs.  All I can aim for is to add to the interior space with something visually interesting / beautiful / stimulating to this brand-new environment, which makes the experience for both staff and patients a pleasant and perhaps an intriguing one.

The following images make up the final draft artwork approved for production by the RUH. The Magenta/Pink colour is used to indicate clear/fully transparent glazing with no artwork. White represents sandblasting and / or Ceramic Etch techniques. All other colour is created using Screen-printed Ceramic Colour fired onto the glass. The artwork is applied to the two inner faces of a double glazed sealed unit. There is a subtle overlaying of motifs, which means that the artwork is slightly different as seen from the interior, than the exterior. These drafts are created initially via hand drawing and assembled and finished in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Final Master Draft for the North and East Glazed Screens. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Research Images developing patterns from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Research Images developing colour & patterns from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the East Glazed Screen. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the East Glazed Screen detail 4. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the East Glazed Screen detail 3. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Iris drawing. Research drawings developing motifs and patterns from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the East Glazed Screen detail 2. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Draft Donkey with pattern. Research Images developing motifs & patterns from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Orange. Research Images developing motifs, patterns & colours from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the North Glazed Screen detail 1. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the North Glazed Screen detail 2. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Final Master Draft for the North Glazed Screen detail 3. Artist: Christopher Tipping
Draft 16 Foil shape with Foxgloves. Research drawings developing motifs & patterns from research at the RNHRD, including The Min Chapel. Artist: Christopher Tipping

Flower Bowl Images from Rockpanel

My great collaborators at Rockpanel have just sent me a new set of images they have commissioned of The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre at Brock, near Preston.

The wonderful images are by Daniel James Alive Photography.

I was commissioned by Guy Topping MD of Barton Grange Garden Centre to create the cnc routed artwork for the external Rockpanel rainscreen facade.

The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel

Rockpanel put me in touch with Barton Grange following our work with HLM Architects on their ‘Heart of the Campus’ project for Sheffield Hallam University. I was then commissioned by Guy Topping to design artwork to be integrated into the exterior cladding, which wraps the façade of the Flower Bowl. The client was keen to reference its long association with plants, trees and especially flowers. The artwork is therefore a celebration of flowers inspired not so much by botanical accuracy, rather their abstract super graphic nature at large scale, exploding like fireworks in celebration across the elevations of the building.

The façades are specified in Rockpanel Colours in RAL 7022, routed to reveal the design, which was created in collaboration with Mark Durey at The Cutting Room, Huntingdon, using Alphacam CAD CAM software.

The translation of my artwork to the end product is anything but straightforward. Mark’s intimate knowledge of the technology, combined with his experience in creative problem solving, brings an entirely bespoke method to creating the final installation. The final outcome is exceptionally accurate.

The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel

‘The Flower Bowl is an innovative multi-use leisure destination, which sits alongside Barton Grange Garden Centre and Barton Grange Marina at Brock, near Preston in Lancashire. 

The Topping family run the Barton Grange Group which owns and operate the Garden Centre, Marina and Flower Bowl and whose history spans back more than seventy years. The company runs several award-winning garden centres, a 4 star hotel and a widely respected and successful landscape contracting firm.

The architects for the project were Worthington Ashworth Jackson Walker (WAJW). They faced several challenges in accommodating the large number of disparate facilities with potentially conflicting requirements in close proximity. WAJW Architect Alistair Williams, “The single greatest challenge was to master the complex geometry of the vast, undulating roof and to detail this in such a way that it could be accurately replicated on site.” The 4200m2 single storey structure now features that gently undulating grass roof that, it is hoped, will eventually have sheep grazing on it’. Rockpanel

The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel
The Flower Bowl cnc routed facade artwork. Image: Daniel James Alive Photography by kind permission of Rockpanel

 

The Granite Bench at Rogallo Place –

Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding

A simple monolithic granite bench was also commissioned for Rogallo Place by Optivo Homes. A beautiful honed finish is sandblasted with the name of the building alongside detailed motifs reflecting the glazing vinyls of the building’s interior.

The bench was manufactured and supplied in collaboration with Hardscape, as ever, great to work with.

Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Hardscape

The image above was taken during production at Hardscape’s Facility at Long Marston, near Stratford Upon Avon.

Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Hardscape
Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Granite Bench Drawings by Hardscape for Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Hardscape
Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Granite Bench by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Francis Knight Art Consultants

All done & dusted at Rogallo Place

Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding

Rogallo Place has now completed on site with all artworks successfully in place. Many thanks to Francis Knight for the usual brilliant arts management and collaboration, and to Optivo Homes for the opportunity.

A big thanks also to my  specialist manufacturers & collaborators, VGL & Hardscape for their invaluable contribution.

All images are copyright of and by Richard Gooding Photography

Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding
Rogallo Place Glazing Vinyl by Artist Christopher Tipping. Image: Richard Gooding

Look at this …

Alan Lovell of Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies sent some great production images of the 7m diameter PietraPave granite mosaic I created, during its recent construction in China. The work has been manufactured and is now on its way to the UK for installation at The Flower Bowl, Barton Grange nr Preston.

7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave

 

7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave
7m diameter granite mosaic during manufacture in China. Image by kind permission: Alan Lovell, Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies, Pietra Pave

 

 

Almost done – the last few boards

By the way, I chose the worst day of the week to make a site visit to Barton Grange in Lancashire to check on progress – rained all day – the one poor day out of a glorious week of fine weather. Images not as good as they could be.

Notwithstanding that, the progress by Aztec Industrial Roofing Ltd has been brilliant and the main contractors, Truman Design and Build are now focussing on the interiors which are a hive of activity.

Externally, the rainscreen boards are almost all in place – with many exhibiting various stages of weathering, which starts with the exposed routed board being a bright yellow tone and gradually darkening to a rich tan / copper colour.

The Cutting Room in Huntingdon have now almost completed cutting the last of the boards and these will be shipped to site during the next week or so.

Main Entrance Elevation in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping
Installation of cnc routed rainscreen facade in progress at The Flower Bowl. Image: Christopher Tipping

 

 

A different view …

Some brilliant new images of my project for the new Macmillan Unit at Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust  have come to light. It is always refreshing to see how others see your work & the space it was created for. In this instance I was very kindly given permission by Mike Hearle, European Digital Marketing Manager for Construction Specialties – to use images from their website. Construction Specialities supplied and installed the solid timber handrails running through the unit.  Take a look …the artwork was digitally printed and installed by VGL. The project was delivered by IBI Group Architects and Willis Newson, the UK’s leading arts and health consultancy.

Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities
Tameside Hospital New Macmillan Unit. Artwork by Christopher Tipping. Image by kind permission of Construction Specialities

Sub-Station

The last 2 elevations are now in progress, having signed off the artwork for the Elevations 7 & 8, the Sub-Station Building and Rovero End. My work is now pretty much done here. Going to site to see it installed is now a priority.

The Flower Bowl. Draft for Elevation 8 – Sub Station and Rovero. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Flower Bowl. Draft for Elevation 8 – Sub Station and Rovero. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Flower Bowl. Draft for Elevation 8 – Sub Station and Rovero. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Flower Bowl. Draft for Elevation 8 – Sub Station and Rovero. Image: Christopher Tipping

Big Flower Mosaic

The last pieces of production artwork have now been signed off. Most of the front elevation of the building has now been installed. Weirdly I’ve not yet been up to see it. Been pretty busy here in Ramsgate.

A good thing is that Guy Topping commissioned a further piece of work from me – a 7m diameter granite mosaic of a large flower for the main entrance threshold. The manufacturing work was commissioned from Bannister Hall Landscape Supplies and will be manufactured in China.

The Flower Bowl. Draft for granite mosaic paving entrance feature. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Flower Bowl. Draft for granite mosaic paving entrance feature. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Flower Bowl. Draft for granite mosaic paving entrance feature. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Flower Bowl. Draft for granite mosaic paving entrance feature. Image: Christopher Tipping