Icon – a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration.

Blyth is a town rich in heritage with many distinctive features – some obvious, some more hidden. It is a place where industry meets nature, with strong links to energy production through coal in the past and renewables in the present. The artwork was inspired by ideas shared through conversations with the community during consultations led by Place Create and EDable Architecture as part of the Cultural Placemaking Programme.

The people of Blyth were invited to share words and features that capture the spirit of Blyth. Some of these prominent visual features were described as Blyth’s ‘Icons’. We took this as the starting point for the artwork to celebrate these distinctive characteristics, both past and present. Blyth is a town undergoing significant change, and this moment captures a tipping point as all the recent investment in the town is starting to become tangible. These Icons are therefore more important than ever, familiar reference points that can remind us of where we came from, where we are now and where we are going.

The location of the artwork in the former Keel Row car park is an arrival point for many people – either as part of their daily routine or for visitors. The piece is intended as both a warm welcome and a reminder of the many things we can be proud of.