Student unveils her cape at opening of new Homebase store

24 May 2007

Homebase unveiled its new store in Mold today and with it a large scale piece of artwork by North Wales School of Art and Design student Susan Mann.

Homebase launched a competition last year to local colleges and universities to produce designs for a piece of artwork that would be suitable to go on an outside wall of its new store. All the designs were submitted at the end of last year and a winner was announced along with two runner-up accolades.

Three students were chosen from the North Wales School of Art and Design based at NEWI, along with two students from Deeside College. Susan Mann, a second year Fine Art degree student won the competition and Jude Davies, first year Fine Art student and Carys Boyle, foundation degree art student at NEWI who worked together on a design proposal came third.

Susan’s winning design depicts the beautiful Mold Cape and it has been created from a mixture of materials including ceramic, stone and metal. The Mold Cape, which was discovered in 1833 is one of Britain's most famous ancient artefacts and is one of the most important European Bronze Age finds to be discovered in North East Wales.

Winning the competition has enabled Susan to work with Cardiff Artist, Nigel Talbot and HB Architects to help construct and put the artwork in place.

“I didn’t expect to win and it was wonderful that I did” said Susan. “It was lovely this morning at the opening and I got a real buzz out of seeing my name on the plaque next to the piece of artwork I designed. I’ve been visiting the site as the project has been developed to take photographs for my portfolio and it has been fascinating to work with Nigel Talbot to be involved in the stages of putting together a piece like this. Winning this competition will be great for my career; it is the icing on the cake of my art CV.”

Pupils from Brynford Primary School and St. Davids Primary School attended the opening of the store as they have also had a part to play in the creation of the artwork. Nigel Talbot has been working with these schools to create ceramic tiles depicting areas of the pupil’s life or surroundings. These tiles have been used within the artwork to depict the beads on the cape and feature the name of the pupil who created each tile.