Follow the rainbow to Battersea High Street this festive season 

December 2020–January 2021, Battersea High Street, London 

Wandsworth Council and the Royal College of Art (RCA) have selected the artist, Hannah Coulson, to bring some brightness to Battersea this winter with a new dazzling public artwork.  

Coulson, an illustrator who works at the RCA managing their FUELRCA programme, has designed a unique winter rainbow that will ripple through Battersea High Street, stopping to ‘explode’ in three special locations, where audiences can take selfies against the spectacularly colourful backdrops and share via #BrightBattersea on social media. 

Whilst galleries are currently closed and many people are working from home, having art in public spaces for all to enjoy and transform our surroundings is more important than ever. This project was created as part of a commitment to celebrate our local high streets and residents, bringing culture directly to our streets to offer hope and light during the end of this difficult year.  

The new installation, which will be on view from December 2020 to January 2021, is an extension of Wandsworth Art’s ‘Framed:’ project. ‘Framed:’ celebrates local creative talent by exhibiting artists’ work on shop windows and lampposts all over Wandsworth. Centred around the themes of new beginnings and positivity, we are excited to animate our streets and public spaces with the vibrant wealth of local creativity Wandsworth is proud to be home to. 

“It’s always inspiring to connect artists and designers with the Royal College of Art’s neighbouring communities in Battersea, and this has been especially true as we come to the end of a challenging year.  It has been wonderful to team up with Wandsworth Council to support RCA graduate Hannah Coulson to develop #BrightBattersea and support inspiring creative opportunities in our local high streets.”  Victoria Patrick, Community Engagement Manager, RCA. 

“The illustrations I’ve made for the #BrightBattersea installation are inspired by sparkling winter skies and all the different festivals that celebrate light and hope at this time of year. I’m delighted to be working with Wandsworth Council on this cheerful local project.” Hannah Coulson, artist. 

Follow the rainbow: 

Find out more about Hannah Coulson and this new artwork on social media platforms @wandsworthart #brightbattersea and in the short interview below – she even teaches us how to make our own snowflakes at home!

About Hannah Coulson 

Hannah Coulson is a Scottish artist, illustrator and educator.  

Hannah studied Visual Communication at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal College of Art. She makes colourful collages, bold screen prints and picturebook illustrations for clients including the BBC, M&S, Habitat and Conran & Partners.  

She is an Associate Artist in the Tate St Ives Artists Programme, and leads FuelRCA, a professional development programme for students studying at the RCA. She lives and works in South London. 

About the Royal College of Art

The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading university of art and design.  Specialising in teaching and research, the RCA offers degrees of MA, MPhil, MRes and PhD across the disciplines of architecture, arts & humanities, design and communications.   

A small, specialist and research-intensive postgraduate university based in the heart of London, the RCA provides 2000 students with unrivalled opportunities to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. The RCA’s approach is founded on the premise that art, design, creative thinking, science, engineering and technology must all collaborate to solve today’s global challenges. 

Alumni include David Adjaye, Christopher Bailey, Monster Chetwynd, David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Thomas Heatherwick, Lubaina Himid, Clare Waight Keller and Rose Wylie.   

The RCA was named the world’s leading university of art and design in the QS World Rankings 2020 for the sixth consecutive year.