Bright lights up the Island Quarter with new mural

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 5 October 2022

UPDATED: 5 October 2022

A stunning mural depicting two of Nottingham’s most beloved pioneers has been unveiled at The Island Quarter following the opening of Binks Yard.

The four-metre-tall painting depicting Jesse and Florence Boot - founders of the Boots pharmaceutical empire - was revealed by artist Jess Bright and Robert Ware of The Conygar Investment Company, the developer behind the £1.4bn regeneration project.

The mural is situated on the new outdoor stage at 1 The Island Quarter - close to the site of Boots’ original headquarters - and the design reflects the pioneering nature of the Boot family.

Jess’ design came out top in a global competition and is the first of many projects set to involve Nottingham artists in bringing the 36-acre site to life.

Nottingham-born Jess’ design was unanimously agreed as the winner by a panel comprised of Emma Houston, great-granddaughter of Jesse and Florence Boot, Deborah Ware, of The Island Quarter, Sophie Clapp, company archivist for Boots, and Reiss Mallet, artist liaison for The Nottingham Street Art Project.

Jess’ entry caught the attention of the panel with its bold imagery of the two pioneers, clear messaging and fun style, which brought the piece to life. This style can be seen across many of her pieces that are displayed across the city.

Jess said:

“Having won the competition, I’m thrilled to finally share my mural design with everyone and have it displayed at The Island Quarter. It’s a really exciting time for the city with everything that’s happening at this development, and I hope lots of people can come and enjoy my piece.”

Robert Ware, chief executive at Conygar, said:

“A key component of The Island Quarter masterplan is connecting the site’s rich history with its exciting future. The mural that Jess has created is a truly wonderful piece that takes pride of place at 1 The Island Quarter as we open our doors to the public.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with artists from across the region to continue to bring the site to life as we begin work on the next phases.”

The piece is the latest addition to The Nottingham Project’s Rebels and Pioneers street art collection, which includes pieces celebrating the city’s links to the Luddite rebellion, and a tribute to Eric Irons OBE.

Lee Walker, director at The Nottingham project, said:

“We are delighted to have worked with The Island Quarter to launch this competition. Jess’ mural brilliantly encapsulates the story of two of Nottingham’s true pioneers, Florence and Jessie Boot, and continues to demonstrate the depth of creative talent out city holds.”

Binks Yard - which is part of 1 The Island Quarter - is now open to the public. To view the menu and find out more about Nottingham’s hottest new venue, visit binksyard.com.

Picture: L-R Judith Wright, Deborah Ware, Robert Ware, Jess Bright, Reiss Mallett and Emma Houston

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