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

Big Smile Collective Chelmsford Art Factory

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


How to know when the job is done March 30, 2020 12:00

One of the most difficult parts of being an artist/illustrator is to know when to stop. When is your job finished, when can you sit back and be satisfied that you have done enough. My answer to this is you don't, I always think I can do a bit more here and a bit more there. I treat my work as a story, there's a beginning, middle and end and that's when I must say goodbye.

I recently started sketching an new illustration, I have an urge to introduce more people into my work that look human and not animalistic. The pencil work was done (all my artwork is handrawn first) and then I went on to using fine tipped black pens. While doing the fineline pen work i did a small film of the process which I shared on social media.

Adding colour

When this was finished the artwork was scanned to Photoshop where I started to work on building up the color. This work is not finished yet but am enjoying adding the colour to this one but am stuck on the many coloured jewels on the girls dress!

 Rain drops coloured

What makes art good?

We had the honour recently of being asked for the second year running to judge the Mothers' Day portrait competition for the Mercury Mall in Romford. Many schools got involved and there were hundreds of entries. There were different age group categories.We had a ball spending half a day going through all the fabulous artworks. The winners and close runners came to a prize winners ceremony at the Mercury Mall, and all the childrens' work was also displayed in their art gallery. 

Overall winner of Mercury Mall Mother's Day competition

Mercury Mall Mother's Day competition prize giving

Display of competition entries and B&B artwork

Lis & Maj in front of children's artwork


Guild February 2019 April 2, 2019 12:00

Our bug's life print was featured in the February 2019 edition of Guild.

Guild magazine February 2019

 


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.

Image of my Mum 5-7 winner

 Image of My Mum invite

 Image of my Mum 8-11 winner

Image of my Mum audience

Image of my Mum Mercury Mall staff pick

 


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!

Zag zag zig wallpaper


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...

Three headed bird wallpaper


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. 

Ice scream you scream wallpaper


Boom wallpaper February 19, 2019 12:00

Sometimes I put aside a chunk of time to do some sketching of any old thing that I fancy. Some of this work ends up in the bin and some of it sits on my computer under new ideas for months, even years, until I am ready to look at it again. I may not like a sketch but something about it makes me keep it. Some of my best work has come out of a drawing that I have done and forgotten, and then I revisit and realise its potential. This is when I produce my best work I feel. 

boom wallpaper


Leopard fire wallpaper February 12, 2019 12:00

I have been working hard on a whole new set of designs for wallpaper and prints for the last six months or so.

I love animal prints but never attempted to do one myself until now. Whilst drawing this I was thinking of a big colourful mystical beast roaming around. I like this design because it would suit a lot of interior products too such as carpets, rugs and bedspreads. Ideas are flowing...   

Leopard fire wallpaper


Lola Crest Bedroom update January 1, 2019 12:00

We love this beautiful bedroom update using Lola Crest wallpaper. It's such a great feeling when someone takes the time to send in pictures of the finished room where they have used your wallpaper. The Lola Crest wallpaper was used by a long term customer Charlotte, who became a friend. We call her our number one fan because she has loved and supported our brand for many years, from when we started in fashion until today doing interiors .

This design means a lot to Charlotte and her husband, as she purchased a top from us with the Lola Crest on it and met her husband wearing it. They now have this wallpaper in their first home bought together.

Lola Crest headboard

Lola Crest lamp

Lola Crest stereo

Lola Crest corner


Rainbow Christmas dreams of 6ix9ine December 11, 2018 12:00

Rap-inspired Christmas illustration by Brennan & Burch

Have a colourful rainbow of a Christmas!


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.

Illustrated sketch 2

Illustrated sketch 1

Illustrated sketch 3

 Illustrated sketch 4


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.

Mad World poster

Let the Music Play poster

 

 


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.

Let the Music Play Pixie Bag in progress image1

Let the Music Play Pixie Bag in progress image2

New Forest Tote Bag in progress image1

New Forest Tote Bag in progress image2


Colour in Romford - street art installed March 30, 2016 12:00 1 Comment

Colour in Romford aims to support Creatives and engage the local community in the arts by bringing a splash of colour to South Street. The open competition gave the public the opportunity to submit their artwork for large scale commissions with a chance to see their creations brought to life throughout our streets. Focusing on four main sites, entries were encouraged to design a piece that drew inspiration from local history and culture, giving the proposed urban sites an audacious, artistic makeover. Colour in Romford is curated by Made Public .

'New Forest', Brennan & Burch, South Street (station)

We made a few site visits as the work was going up and got behind the scenes shots.

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan and Burch street art

Brennan & Burch street art

Lis and Maj

'Monkey', Grant Pearce, South Street (Fiction)

'Monkey' by Grant Pierce

'The Reader', Anika Manuel, The Quadrant

'The Reader' by Anika Manuel

'Loughros Point Revisited', Chris Stevens, King's Arm Yard

'Loughros Paint Revisited' by Chris Stevens


Art prints now available February 3, 2016 12:00

Brennan & Burch limited edition art prints are now on sale. Have been talking about this for some time and been asked so many times when the art will finally be produced. There are seven limited edition prints in two sizes. Each digital art print is part of limited edition of 100, printed on 210 gsm giclee watercolour paper. All prints are signed by artist with a certificate of authenticity.


A too-wit too-woo from us to you this Christmas December 17, 2015 12:58

Owl and boombox Xmas card 2016

Colour in Romford - competition entry November 18, 2015 12:00

Now we are Romford girls, we like to try to get involved with stuff that is happening in our local area. We were excited to get the chance to enter Colour in Romford competition being run by Made Public. They are commissioning a number of public art and design pieces in and around South Street, Romford, A nightclub building, town clock, station wall, lamp posts and pavements are just some of the proposed urban sites in need of an audacious artistic makeover. Watch this space...


Skull love June 17, 2015 12:00

Skulls are another passion of mine, second only to smiley faces...

Lola Crest cushion

Skull cushion

Butterfly Skull rug

Skull Frame cushion


Princes Trust x Asda June 10, 2015 12:00

Princes Trust x Asda homewares

Princes Trust x Asda pottery

I was doing a shop some months ago in Asda (as you do) and I came across the homewares designed by businesses supported by Princes Trust. Saw some really lovely products with super cute illustrations on. Was really pleased to see these as we ourselves were supported by the Princes Trust many moons ago when we started our ventures. It's so good to see that such high profile high-street companies are getting involved and helping to support the Princes Trust. The collection is ongoing and theree are lots of lovely products in stock at the moment.

Princes Trust x Asda cushions

Princes Trust x Asda tray

Princes Trust also have a shop called Tomorrow's Store in Liverpool Street where you can purchase lots of goodies and see all the work from up and coming designers. It's on a busy street with plenty of footfall just near the station.

Tomorrow's Store shopfront

We were very grateful for the help that we received and it's so nice to see Princes Trust continuing to offer support and opportunities to those at the start of their creative careers.

http://direct.asda.com/george/home-garden/princes-trust/D26M14G01C07,default,sc.html


Eley Kishimoto Centrepoint May 27, 2015 12:00

Our design heroes Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto from Eley Kishimoto have surpassed themselves.

Eley Kishimoto Private View / Mono Beehive

Their print, Private View, is being used to wrap the iconic Centrepoint building in London's Tottenham Road. Another print, Mono Beehive, will be used to decorate the affordable housing being created as part of the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail redevelopment.

Centrepoint topped with Private View

Centrepoint being wrapped in Eley Kishimoto print

It seems like only yesterday we were queueing up opposite Centrepoint at 14 to go to Mud Club at Busby or a bit later to Sin at the Astoria with infamous raving in the fountains after. Shh don't tell the kids.

It's nice to see Eley Kishimoto's design work come full circle - in 2013 they designed a print and fashion collection inspired by Centrepoint and now they are wrapping the real thing. British design rules!

Eley Kishimoto Centre Point

http://www.centrepointblog.com/blog/all-wrapped-up

http://www.eleykishimoto.com/


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!

Office art

Office shelf

Deer in office window

 


Feeling the love for the art around Old Street May 6, 2015 12:00

Saw these lovely examples of street art on my travels. Just as I was taking the pictures, a tour group came up and so I was earwigging all about the art in the area and the interesting history of graff on our streets.
Old Street Charlie Chaplin graffiti
Old Street Rope Lady graffiti
Old Street Hoarding graffiti
Old Street tunnel graffiti

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. 

Pick Me Up plaques
Pick Me Up London art
Pick Me Up Camera art
Pick Me Up Dunce art
Pick Me Up Obey art
Pick Me Up Hip Hop Don't Stop art
Pick Me Up Pocko stand
Somerset House, London
23 April - 4 May 2015