Artists brush fresh colour into shopping trips

Thanks to Sheffield artists Jim Hardman and Marco Manyou, there's now something to look at even when the shops are closed after the paint-can pair decorated the shutters of premises throughout Jordanthorpe precinct.

Their artwork is only visible when the shutters come down once a week on a Sunday, but it has still proved a big hit with the locals. "We were sick of the shopping centre looking so drab," said Rachael Hardman, Jim's wife and a member of the Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Community, Neighbourhood and Safety Forum.

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"My husband Jim is an artist so he and his friend offered their services, provided we funded the paint."

The Safety Forum applied for funding and asked local firms to donate money for the paint. Then Jim and Marco, both aged 38, set about the task of transforming the shop shutters.

"The only time the shutters are down is a Sunday afternoon because the rest of the time there is always something open like the Chinese take-away," said Rachael.

"So they worked on the shutters every Sunday for 13 weeks. It took the whole summer really."

Jim, from Lowedges, and Marco, of Norfolk Park, also got some young people involved with the designs.

"It turned out most of the young people were happy just to watch them at work," said Rachael.

"We also had some support from the area's Police Community Support Officers who were on hand to supervise.

"The response to the finished art work has been really positive - everyone seems really pleased with the outcome."

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