B and B blog
Big Smile Collective Youth Art Factory Chelmsford January 5, 2023 19:57
Are you 11-17 years old living in the Chelmsford area and love being creative? Big Smile Collective Youth are doing a pop up art factory in Hot Box, 28-29 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TS every Wednesday from 3:00-5:00pm. Come and join us for a safe, warm, hang out, doing creative things for free. Enjoy some pizza and soft drinks!
- Big Smile Collective Youth Art Factory Chelmsford is a safe place for you and your mates
- We are open in Hot Box every Wednesday afternoon
- Free Pizza Bar every Wednesday for our factory participants
- Warm and welcoming environment off the streets
- Creative activity every week
- Industry specialists leading activities
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is it free?
Yes, Big Smile Collective Youth Art Factory Chelmsford is free to attend.
Can I just turn up or do I need to register on Eventbrite?
Yes, you can just turn up on the day.
Is there really free pizza?
Yes, we will feed you pizza and offer soft drinks!
I have a question - who can I contact?
call Lis & Maj on 020 8144 9981
email us at shop@brennan-and-burch.co.uk
write to us at Brennan & Burch, Barking Enterprise Centre, 50 Cambridge Road, Barking IG11 8FG
Judging Mother's Day art competition March 26, 2019 12:00
We were asked to be on the judging panel for the Mothers' Day art portrait competition 'Image of My Mum' at the Mercury Mall shopping centre in Romford. We were astounded when we got there at the number of artwork submissions, over 700 entries. Our favourites combined technique, cuteness and detail. After deliberating all morning, phew it was hard going as there were many lovely portraits, we finally came to a decision. Afterwards we had a well earned croissant and tea plus a chocolate flake yum yum.
We were invited to the private view and really enjoyed seeing the pride and accomplishment on the faces of the winners and highly commended. The portraits will be displayed in the Mercury Mall until 31 March 2019.
Zag zag zig wallpaper March 19, 2019 12:00
This graphic black and white image was first hand drawn (no ruler) and then repeated digitally. I am not a fan of straight lines, they are too regimented for me. I'm a bit of a rebel and want my images to show the wibbles and wobbles, I will not conform!
Three head bird wallpaper March 12, 2019 12:00
This wallpaper has been an ongoing project for a few years. I took an image of a sparrow and wanted it to look wooden, like an ancient tree. There were a lot of attempts to make it look right and I ended up discarding it for ages, something wasn't right about it. Recently I was going through my archive and came across this image again. I had a fresh mind and a clearer idea where I wanted it to go and it finally paid off...
Ice cream you scream wallpaper February 26, 2019 12:00
This is my favorite of the new wallpapers. I was so pleased that I could draw a rabbit that looks like a rabbit! Everything about it gives me joy as it all seems to marry so well. Mad, fun, bright and surreal.
Freedom to draw July 13, 2018 12:00
How nice it has been to take a bit of time just to sketch. It's a little world that I rule, nothing is wrong unless you don't like it. I really get lost in it and listen to the music I love loud unless it's night time and kids are in bed!
Hours go by like minutes and my imagination has no limits. I spent about five hours doing this drawing and it has been changed loads since these pictures. The whole process is long but in the end it is worth it.
Old skool rave art, flyers and photography February 16, 2018 12:00
Rave Story 2018 by Music Mondays is upon us and well worth a visit. This 3-day extravaganza features rave art, flyers, photography, vinyl store, dj seminars and workshop and of course a rave to finish.
It's held at Club Aquarium London from 21-23 Feb 2018. This was the venue of Maj's hen night (too drunk to make it to the swimming pool in the club but that's another story!). Last year at Rave Story the UV backdrops were amazing and the bedroom art installation looked just like the flyer encrusted brightly coloured room of a teenager in the late 80s.
Sam Williams from Artypix will be there. We love to listen into Sam's old skool radio show RadioActive FM. Sam is also the author of Happy Daze rave photography book. In 2017 we were lucky enough to win a copy on her radio show and came down to Rave Story to say hi and collect our signed book.
Another gem here is the Phatmedia stand. Phatmedia is a massive online database of old skool flyers and the owner Dave will have some absolute gems of original flyers for sale! Last year we ended up reminiscing with Sam and Dave and wondering where the Naf Naf twins ended up.
It's free entry to the art gallery, flyer and vinyl store from 11-6 every day.
Tickets for workshops and party on sale at:
https://musicmondays.databeats.com/event/4359-the-rave-story-2018
Eye Candy Festival 2016 September 28, 2016 12:00
We are going to be very early risers on Saturday 1 October 2016 to drive up to Birmingham and set up our stall at the Eye Candy Illustration & Art Fair, part of the Eye Candy Festival of art. Eye Candy has been running in Birmingham since 2012 and is organised by Kerry from the cult underground magazine Fused.
We will be selling butterfly skull belts and unframed A1 art posters for super duper Eye Candy prices of just £5 each. Also we'll be taking orders for giclée fine art limited edition prints, illustrated textured extra-wide wallpapers and Leather Satchel x Brennan & Burch printed leather bags.
Our belts are also available for sale in the fab Eye Candy pop-up store at Great Western Arcade, Colmore Row, Birmingham B2 5HU from Wednesday 28 September 2016 - Saturday 8 October 2016.
The Leather Satchel Co. x Brennan and Burch collaboration August 10, 2016 12:00
We have both admired The Leather Satchel Co. for some time, because the design, colours and quality of their bags is outstanding and they are a traditional heritage British company. We have both bought satchels and always get great feedback wherever we go, and the neon ones are right up our acid house street.
We were thrilled to meet Keith Hanshaw, the Managing Director of The Leather Satchel Co., at an exhibition in London. We had a good old chat and talked about the possibility of putting our heads together to do something in the future. A year or so down the line, our The Leather Satchel Co. x Brennan & Burch collaboration was born.
We are very excited to have been given free reign to choose from all their designs and to select two of our prints to use. One print 'New Forest' was chosen as it has been graffitied onto a wall by Romford station and Keith loves it. The other print 'Let the Music Play' is full of our usual mad characters and colour. To start the range we plumped for the gorgeous pixie bag and a roomy leather tote bag. Here is a preview of them being made by hand by master craftsman Keith.
Grand opening of a very small office May 13, 2015 12:00
Finally got round to painting and sprucing up one of the B&B offices. Feeling very pleased with ourselves. Almost felt like smashing a champagne bottle against the wall to launch it!
Pick Me Up exhibition Somerset House 23 April - 4 May 2015 April 29, 2015 12:00
We popped over to Pick Me Up graphic arts festival to see what all the fuss was about and liked what we saw. All sorts of art on sale with prices from £2 to £500, well worth a visit.
Happy faces February 18, 2015 12:00
We have forever had a thing about smiley/happy faces since the heady days of acid house in the 80's until now (sadly didn't own a smiley acid house t-shirt, thought it was a blessing in them days).
When I am drawing I often think can I squeeze one in and often I do... my smileys sum me up, happy looking on the outside with a dark and foreboding tinge...
Roll up roll up B&B circus is here! February 11, 2015 12:00
Minds been flowing with ideas lately, am thinking circus, hell, bondage, flying things and of course clowns. Been trying to put drawing to paper and got down a few ideas. Am liking where it's going, can't wait for the bigger picture (rubbing hands together in glee).
