Giant cloth art celebrates town’s story

The Chewits mascot, Hairy Biker Dave Myers and a famous seabird are all replicated in an artwork celebrating a town.

A collection of 80 images, representing all things Barrow in Cumbria, have been printed on fabric, known as a toile de Jouy.

Artists Karen Evans and Maddy Humberstone created the giant cloth artwork with Theatre Factory, and it currently hangs in the theatre company’s Grade II listed Cookes Building base on Abbey Road.

The pair, who reunited after studying together more than three decades ago, said the people of Barrow “absolutely love” the artwork and it felt like a “fitting tribute” to the town.

Mrs Evans told BBC Radio Cumbria: “We thought a toile de Jouy would be a perfect design medium to tell the story and celebrate because Barrow deserves celebrating.”

Mrs Humberstone said a toile de Jouy, which originated in 18th-Century France, traditionally consisted of nine images but theirs ended up with 80 after recommendations came pouring in.

“We just couldn’t stop ourselves, we just kept producing and producing,” she said.

Famous people, scenes and institutions have been depicted on the artwork, including

• Chewie the Chewitsaurus, as Chewits filmed its TV advert for the sweet in Barrow in the 1980s
• an Arctic tern, a seabird which regularly soars over south Walney
• the Bon Bon sweet shop, a Barrow sweet shop ran by proprietors Betty Wilkinson and Wynn Dawson
• Dave Day, an annual tribute to Hairy Biker Dave Myers, who passed away in February 2024
• Barrow AFC and Barrow Raiders rugby club
• Barrow Underground Music Society

The artwork, which forms the backdrop to the Theatre Factory’s year-long drama festival, IF! Inclusion, is also being reproduced on to cushions, tote bags and make-up bags.

“A friend of mine burst into tears when she saw it [the artwork], she is really wanting it done as curtains,” said Mrs Evans.

“I am making a dress of it, I love it that much.”

The artists first met at Barrow Sixth Form College in 1993, studying textiles.

Mrs Evans said: “It’s really lovely to work together.

“We are so delighted with how the artwork turned out. It feels like a fitting tribute to this brilliant town.

“It’s a bit of an I-spy when you look at the fabric, there is so much on there. I think people love Barrow as much as we do.”

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