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Stop 1 of 10 · Market Harborough Public Art Trail

Abbey Street utility cabinet artworkby Amber

  • WhereAbbey St, Market Harborough LE16 9AA
  • ProjectClean Up, Colour Up
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Utility cabinet on Abbey Street painted with the Old Grammar School in a pink roundel and large white daisies
Fig. 1 Daisies, tulips and the Old Grammar School in a pink roundel. Artwork by Amber.

This piece of public art is part of the Clean Up, Colour Up community improvement project. Led by Andrew Reeves of Market Harborough Wombles, the Clean Up, Colour Up crew have worked with the community to identify unloved and overlooked corners of the town in need of a serious glow up. Following a competition for Welland Park Academy students to submit their ideas for designs, three bold colourful artworks were chosen by the judging panel to be transferred onto cabinets in town. The artworks demonstrate a strong connection to our town, touching on heritage and environmental awareness and inject joyful bursts of colour to the town.

We thank Virgin Media, Harborough District Council, Market Harborough and The Bowdens Charity and The Rotary Club for permissions and funding as well as the sponsorship from PaintWell and the artists who brought the students’ designs to life; JJ Barrs Art, Kayleigh Smith Creative and The Paint Pottle.

Quote from Amber:

“My Aunt and Uncle live on a narrowboat, and I always loved the paintings on the boats when I’d visit them and when I’d walk around Foxton Locks and the Union Wharf, I had a great time trying the canal art style in primary school and I wanted to capture that again. Incorporating the old grammar school brings it back home to the most famous part of Market Harborough.”

“I’ve always loved art, no matter what skill level I’ve been at because if I have an idea I’ll make it just how it is in my head and express it. I can make it myself and show it off, but mainly because it shows my interests and I love spending time on all sorts of creative projects, it’s an outlet for what I want people to see about me.”

“It’s a big thing for me, actually seeing the art day to day is brill and knowing that the community you’re growing up in can see it too makes me happy. I’m glad that I could add to the streets of Market Harborough, representing a part of the town and its history.”

Find it

Fig. 2 Stop 1, marked on the street map. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Add your wall to the trail

Do you own a wall or door that would benefit from a little glow-up that we can add to our town trail? Get in touch: claire@thepaintpottle.co.uk

Book a table

Tuesday to SaturdayTwo sessions: 10am–12pm and 2pm–4pm.

Planning ahead? We’ll write the email for you
Which session? (optional)

Morning 10am–12pm or afternoon 2pm–4pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

How many painters?
2 painters

Hi Claire, I’d like to book a table for 2 painters. Thank you!

Email this request

Choosing a session doesn’t book it: we’ll confirm by phone, text or email.

We do advise booking, especially on Saturdays and during holiday periods.