A new public sculpture commissioned by developer Crest Nicholson and housing association A2Dominion was installed at the new Walton Court Garden development last week to celebrate the site’s heritage and its importance to the local community. The project was funded by developers Crest A2D (Walton Court) LLP and Elmbridge Borough Council facilitated the project and shortlisted artist Stuart Melrose to create the artwork.
Stuart came to the project with a wide experience of delivering similar permanent commissions across the southeast for local authorities like Reading, Hampshire Borough Council, and corporate clients such as Grand Designs, BAA and Microsoft.
The public art piece, entitled ‘Welcome Home,’ is a valuable addition to the new development located on the former site of the Birdseye headquarters and within close distance to where Flight Sergeant Charles Sydney’s Spitfire was shot down in the Battle of Britain.
Artist Stuart Melrose wanted his work to reflect this important link to the local history and was also keen to mirror the clean architectural lines adopted by food giant Birdseye for their headquarters as well as giving a nod to their quirky approach to creating a relaxing environment for their employees by keeping live animals, including penguins, in the building’s internal courtyard. The result is a stunning piece of art incorporating both the outline of a spitfire and a penguin.
Artist Stuart Melrose said: “I loved working on this project and the challenge of combining the site’s rich heritage and Birdseye’s innovative vision. I hope the community will enjoy the sculpture and see it as an appropriate symbol merging past, present and future”.
Crest A2D (Walton Court) LLP said, “We are delighted to see this new public art piece in pride of place at the heart of the Walton Court development. We hope the ‘Welcome Home’ sculpture will give visitors and residents a strong sense of community while commemorating the remarkable history of the site”.
Elmbridge Borough Council said, “The new public artwork by Stuart Melrose embraces the site’s past and the role it played in the local community. With this development, Walton has created a new neighbourhood for a thriving community, but it is important to pay homage to the local area’s heritage which defined its current identity. This is what this new art installation seeks to achieve.”
For further information about Stuart’s work, please visit his Stuart Melrose's website or email arts@elmbridge.gov.uk.