Common Ground artist research project

Illustration, live scribing

Common Ground was a research project in preparation for a Birmingham 2022 Common Wealth Games event which included visiting various locations across the region throughout June and July. 

People were invited to have a conversation about the Games and to explore how Birmingham 2022 could benefit their community and create a legacy in the region. The findings were then be used by local artist Void One (illustrating Stourbridge, Sutton Coldfield, West Bromwich, Leamington Spa and Walsall's responses) and myself (illustrating Cannock, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Solihull and Centenary Square's responses) to create a visual interpretation of the conversations, as they happen.

The project concluded with an event called Commonwealth Social which took place in Centenary Square at Birmingham city centre on Saturday 27 July 2019. The Commonwealth Social was to mark the milestone of three years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 by uniting the people of the city and the region, as well as revealing the artwork created by Void One and myself.

To help develop a visual story, people were asked three questions:

• What makes your town thrive now? 

Responses illustrated in blue

• What does your town need to thrive in the future? 

Responses illustrated in green

• How can the games support that growth? 

Responses illustrated in yellow

Below are the images I created as a result of these conversations: