It is the second bench Tina has designed for the town centre with the ‘Fancie Bench’ on King’s Square already becoming a popular local landmark opposite St John’s Church of England Primary School.

Tina secured the commission through an open competition for artists to submit their ideas for public art works as part of the major improvement works being carried out across the town centre.

Tina’s practice as an artist is all about exploring joy, how it makes us feel and what triggers it within us. She is interested in the impact that colour and shapes can have on people and her work explores how art can improve wellbeing and balance.

The project was a collaborative effort with the Blackpool Illuminations team who put their specialist skills into practice to fabricate the work. The fibreglass shell was cast at the Lightworks depot, with Tina and artists from the Illuminations team hand painting the designs using an overhead projector to transfer the individual features onto the body of the bench.

The newly commissioned public art aims to enhance the highways and shop front investment that has taken place to make the town centre more attractive to shoppers, residents and investors, supported by a grant from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership under its Growth Deal.

Tina said:

Cllr Kathryn Benson, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Aspiration and Community Assets, said:

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