Barnstaple set to turn blue as part of exciting new art project this autumn

A quartet of large painted panels will be the centrepiece of a new public art project in Barnstaple inspired by the town’s historic colour.

Barnstaple Blue will see local artists Penny Rowland Hill and Howard Porter, members of North Devon Arts, will work with community groups to create the panels, which will go on permanent display in the Pannier Market.

The Flourishing Barnstaple project pays tribute to the distinctive Barnstaple Blue; a colour deeply rooted in the town’s heritage.

Everyone is invited to get involved in creating the artwork at drop-in sessions in the Pannier Market on Tuesday, October 21 and Saturday, October 25, from 11am to 4pm.

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No booking is required and individuals and groups are welcome to turn up, take part and help bring Barnstaple Blue to life.

From the newly restored Pannier Market to the iconic Brannam’s pottery and the traditional glazed street name signs still found in Barnstaple’s back streets, this hue reflects a strong local tradition that continues to shape the town’s character.

The Barnstaple Blue project forms part of the internationally renowned Big Draw Festival, which celebrates drawing as a universal language of learning, expression and invention.

Funded by Flourishing Barnstaple, a North Devon Council initiative supported by the government’s Cultural Development Fund and administered by Arts Council England, this project builds on a wider programme of public art commissions designed to bring creativity into the heart of Barnstaple.

Cultural producer Lee Baxendale, said: “Barnstaple Blue is a wonderful way of connecting our community with the town’s cultural heritage.

“By working together with local artists and residents, we are not only creating beautiful public art but also strengthening the pride and identity that makes Barnstaple so unique.”

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The panels are expected to be completed by late autumn and the finished artwork will be on public display in Barnstaple Pannier Market in early 2026.