A BRIDGE WITH A VIEW: ARTIST TAKES UP RESIDENCY ON TOWER BRIDGE’S FAMOUS WALKWAYS
- Award-winning urban landscape artist Melissa Scott-Miller takes up residency on the Walkways for A Bridge with a View from June.
- Designed to celebrate a snapshot in the life of London 2022, Melissa will create a work inspired by the panoramic views on offer from the high-level Walkway.
- Visitors to the attraction can capture a glimpse into the progress of her painting and take part in a series of workshops and family activities taking place throughout the summer months.
- Final artwork will be sold via auction to raise money for a charity that benefits Tower Bridge’s local community.
- Find out more here https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/see-bridge-view
- For further images or information contact towerbridge@kallaway.com
Offering one of the most iconic views of London from the Walkways situated a staggering 42 metres above the river Thames – it’s no wonder that Tower Bridge has remained an inspiration to artists across the years. From contemporary photographer Martin Parr (b.1952) right through to painter William Lionel Wyllie (1851-1931) who captured the Bridge on its opening day back in 1894 - each affords a snapshot of the changing face of London, where the modern and historic sit side by side.
Launched to celebrate London and as a tribute to the resilience and vibrancy of this extraordinary city, Tower Bridge has commissioned artist Melissa Scott-Miller to immortalise this extraordinary cityscape. A Bridge with A View sees Melissa take up residence on the Walkways from June onwards, allowing visitors to the attraction a glimpse into the progress of her painting and a chance to experience the famous panoramic view through the eyes of an artist.
A specialist in urban landscapes, award winning artist Melissa is inspired by the city where she has lived and worked all her life. Fascinated by the light, pattern and texture found on the bricks and slates of London’s distinctive mix of architecture, Melissa strives to capture the emotional attachment she feels to the capital’s streets – working to showcase the city with an honest and unfiltered approach.
The final artwork will be auctioned in September 2022 to help raise funds for a charity supported by the historic City Bridge Trust. Part of a charitable arm of the City of London, this philanthropic division supports a vast range of charitable causes, environmental initiatives, and social investment that all give back to the community of Greater London.
Melissa Scott-Miller says: "I have been painting or drawing London most of my life. I love trying to capture the colours and textures of the city streets and the different lights and weather conditions. Painting from Tower bridge is a fantastic opportunity to tie in both the old and the new architecture and to observe the changing skies and how they reflect on the river, also the different kind of busy life on the river and along the riverbanks. And to be able to see so many landmarks in one view is quite unique!"
Chris Earlie, Director of Tower Bridge, says: “I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to not only London’s defining landmark, but the ever-changing landscape of the capital on view from our famous West Walkway. Celebrating not only our vibrant capital but enabling us the chance to give back to our community via the final charity auction of the work - we can’t wait to see what Melissa creates during her time at the Bridge”.
A Bridge with A View takes place throughout the summer months, with the Bridge hosting a series of public workshops and family activities inspired by Melissa’s artwork.
To find out more about all forthcoming A Bridge with A View events visit: www.towerbridge.org.uk/your-visit/whats-on
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Media contacts:
For further information, images or artist interview requests please contact:
Kallaway PR
T: +44 (0)7867 335 242 / +44 (0) 7796 881 175
Notes to editor:
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Standard Entry prices for Tower Bridge from 1 April:
- Adults: £11.40
- Children aged 5 to 15: £5.70
- Concessions: £8.60
- Family tickets from £19.38*
- Under 5s: free
- Companions: free
- Local Community Ticket: £1**
* Buy between 3 and 9 individual Adult and Child tickets (where at least one is an Adult ticket and one is a Child ticket) to qualify for a 15% family discount.
** For residents of Southwark, Tower Hamlets and the City of London.
- Tower Bridge was the creation of architect Sir Horace Jones and civil engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. It took eight years to complete and was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra)
- In 1982 Tower Bridge opened to the public for the first time since 1910 with a permanent exhibition inside. Since then, visitor number have grown annually with approx. 850,000 visiting in 2019, which was the 125thanniversary since the opening back in 1894.
- Tower Bridge opening hours vary so please check the website for the latest update.
- The Tower Bridge Community Ticket invites residents of Southwark, Tower Hamlets and the City of London to visit for £1 only.
- The nearest underground stations are London Bridge or Tower Hill
- Visit the iconic Glass Floor on the high-level Walkways, which gives visitors a unique perspective of London 42 metres above the Thames. Visitors are able to tread on the glass floor panels whilst traffic passes beneath their feet. It can withstand the weight equivalent to one elephant or two London Black Cabs.
- Tower Bridge has been a Family Arts Standards holder since early 2020. We pledge to provide a high-quality offer for families, including facilities and programming. Family activity days take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month and on Tuesdays during school holidays. Activities run from 10am until 4pm, are free with admission.
- Family Trail (App or Booklet): You can download the app or pick up an Explorer Trail booklet when you arrive. Both are designed for families to work together to unearth amazing stories from the Bridge's history. From instructions on how to build your very own paper boat to a game of eye-spy using the panoramic views of London from the high-level Walkways.
- Family activities online Families can have fun at home exploring our online resources. Learn how to make a stop motion animation film, discover the language of semaphore or just enjoy some relaxing colouring in, there are activities suitable for all!
- Tower Bridge is London’s defining landmark and is a proud supporter of the City Bridge Trust, generating over £6m a year, which goes towards helping charitable causes across London.
- Tower Bridge is one of only 20 UK visitor attractions to receive the Visit England Gold Attractions Accolade in both 2018 and 2019. The accolade recognises quality visitor experiences on offer and is awarded to attractions that go the extra mile to provide a high-quality day out.
- The City Corporation, which owns and manages Tower Bridge, is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £100m every year. The City of London Corporation is a core partner of Culture Mile, a home for contemporary culture in the ancient heart of London’s working capital. https://www.culturemile.london/
- The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
About artist Melissa Scott-Miller
A sea of red bricks, a night-time view from a window, a cultivated garden with lush greenery in Islington, narrowboats floating on a canal in autumn. London is the playground of painter Melissa Scott-Miller.
Melissa was born in London in 1959 and lives in Islington. She comes from a family of artists and, in 1977, started her studies at the Slade School of Fine Art, part of University College London (UCL). Following her time at The Slade, Melissa worked on a commission in Munich and exhibited in New York, where she also lived for a year.
In 1999, Melissa was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP), and won the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize in 2008 with the oil on canvas Islington Kids. In 2009, she joined the New English Art Club (NEAC) and, in 2018, the Royal Society of British Arts (RBA). Oher awards include the Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Scholarship, the Lucy Morrison Memorial Prize at the Royal Over-Seas League, Leighton House’s Lord Leighton Prize, and the second place at the South Bank Picture Show.
Over the past 30 years, Melissa’s paintings have been shown in many group exhibitions in galleries such as Mark Jason Gallery, the Mall Galleries and, on 17 occasions, at Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. A seasoned artist, she is also a tutor, teaching at the Royal Drawing School and at Heatherley School of Art.
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