ArtWood appartments wall

Award Winning Design

Art Wood Apartments

In 2015, Signcraft won a commission to design, print and install bespoke wall graphics for a newly-built apartment block. Our client, the development company Bugler, enlisted the local resources of pupils at St. Matthew’s Primary School. The children were set a research project to come up with a suitable name for the building.

“Art Wood Apartments” was chosen in memory of a local musician and personality, Art Wood, whose international claim to fame is being the eldest brother of Ronnie Wood, guitarist with the Rolling Stones. Art had died of cancer in 2006.

A brief history decorates the reception area walls, describing Art as a musician who was also a graphic artist,  in business with another brother, Ted. Ronnie is also known to be a competent artist. The proposed designs were sent to Ronnie for approval and the project was completed on time, for the building to be occupied.

Award Winning Design

Subsequently, The Shepherds Bush Housing Association won an award for the Art Wood Apartments development. Residents and the public voted for their favourite SBHG building design.

Local residents voted for their favourite building as part of ‘Your Vote Matters’, a national campaign to encourage people to register to vote. The apartments provide 28 homes with affordable rent, in a prime location next to the canal in West Drayton. the Art Wood Apartments had a plaque unveiled in September, to recognise its admired and successful design. Art’s family members were invited to attend the ceremony.

The Art Wood Apartments design was also shortlisted for the 24 Housing nationwide awards (Affordable Homes of the Year category).

The Signcraft Connection

The Wood family is, co-incidentally, linked to Signcraft's founders and family. Art Wood was married to Berni Colwell‘s sister, Art’s son Simon is Signcraft's general manager. Ronnie worked as a trainee sign writer at the same company as Bob Colwell, when they were younger, in the days before Signcraft was established. With family connections within the management and design teams at Signcraft, it became a special project and a great deal of feeling and local knowledge were applied to the design brief. The project was managed by Simon, the design created by Emma Hunt and editorial copy was provided by Bob Colwell.

"We feel privileged to be associated with this project, which brings local history alive for future generations."

Bob Colwell, Signcraft.

Art Wood Apartments

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