'For the Love of Brentford' at Printmakers Yard

For the Love of Brentford, a new outdoor art installation celebrating Brentford's vibrant artistic community, has officially launched following its unveiling by the Mayor of Hounslow, Councillor Ranjit Gill, at Printmakers Yard on Saturday 25 July.

Created through a partnership between Fairview New Homes and Creative Mile, Brentford Art Trail, the installation transforms the newly reopened canal path behind Fairview's Printmakers Yard development into a striking open-air gallery. Running until spring 2027, the exhibition showcases the work of 10 local artists inspired by this year's Creative Mile festival theme of Love.

Featuring painting, photography, sculpture and mixed-media works, the installation celebrates Brentford's creativity, heritage and community spirit. Professionally reproduced for outdoor display, the artworks line the Thames Path, creating a new cultural experience that forms part of Brentford's growing public art offer and will become an official fixture of the 2026 Brentford Art Trail.

The exhibition brings together the work of 10 local artists, each offering their own interpretation of Brentford, connection and the theme of Love. Madeleine Marsh's Lovebirds Brooches is created from fragments of Victorian Willow Pattern pottery recovered from the Thames, while Helena Butler's Great West Road, Brentford reflects the town's relationship with its iconic road and waterways. Anna Milgrom's sculptural Duck-horse Chimera reimagines ceramic objects through a process of cutting, rebuilding and embellishment, while Justina Budreikaite's Brentford's Love offers a colourful reinterpretation of Brentford Football Club's crest.

Also featured are Parul Baliyan's Where Cultures Belong – Ganesh in Brentford, celebrating the town's multicultural identity; Anthony Lancaster's Evening Exultation, capturing the excitement of a Brentford FC matchday; Deborah Reeves' intimate self-portrait Love; Scott Margetts' photograph Queen of Brentford, documenting local kingfishers thriving against a backdrop of industry and urban regeneration; Tony Hutchinson's photograph Golden Swan, documenting Brentford's changing landscape; and Lizzie O'Grady's Towers & Boats at Low Tide, Brentford, inspired by the town's riverside setting.

The Mayor of Hounslow, Councillor Ranjit Gill, said: "For the Love of Brentford is a wonderful celebration of everything that makes this town so special - its creativity, its heritage and, above all, its community. As Brentford continues to evolve, projects like this ensure that culture remains at the heart of regeneration, creating places that people feel proud of.

"This installation not only showcases the incredible talent of local artists but also transforms this new canal path into a welcoming public space where residents and visitors can connect with Brentford in a new way. I hope it inspires everyone who visits to celebrate the creativity and community spirit that define this remarkable town."

Madeleine Marsh, artist behind Lovebirds Brooches, said: "My work is inspired by a lifelong love of the Thames and the stories it holds. I create jewellery and sculpture using fragments of pottery and other objects that I've recovered while mudlarking along the Thames and West London's canals, giving these lost pieces a new life through art.

"Being part of For the Love of Brentford is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the town's rich history, its waterways and the strong sense of community that makes this part of London so special. I'm incredibly proud to be one of a small number of artists licensed by the Port of London Authority to create artwork from my mudlarking finds, and it's a privilege to share that passion through this exhibition."

Daisy Carney, Marketing Manager at Fairview New Homes, said: "Brentford has a rich and thriving arts scene that is deeply embedded in its identity. It was important to us to celebrate that culture and play a meaningful role in it as we bring new homes to the area, which is what inspired our collaboration with Creative Mile on this special project.

"We're delighted to see For the Love of Brentford come to life. The installation creates a lasting celebration of local creativity while making the most of the Thames Path behind Printmakers Yard, giving residents and visitors a beautiful new walking route enhanced by inspiring artwork from local artists."

Mark Pearce, Creative Director at Creative Mile, said: “Brentford has many artists whose work is inspired by the town, particularly as it continues through a period of significant change. For the Love of Brentford showcases that creative talent in a way that's accessible to everyone. We're delighted to see the installation launched and know it will become a valuable addition to Brentford's cultural landscape, Brentford’s art trail and celebrating this year's theme of Love."

Brentford has a growing contemporary art scene shaped by its riverside location, industrial heritage and ongoing regeneration. Nearby artist studios and creative collectives occupy repurposed industrial and canal-side sites such as Johnsons Island and XYZ Brentford, reflecting a strong culture of adaptive reuse and grassroots practice.

Creative Mile, the town's annual arts trail highlights this collaborative spirit, opening studios, museums, heritage buildings and public spaces across Brentford to local and regional artists. Fairview New Homes has supported the festival through initiatives including hosting a printmaking workshop at its Printmakers Yard development in 2025, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the local arts community.

As regeneration continues along the Great West Corridor, projects such as For the Love of Brentford are helping to strengthen Brentford's identity as a riverside destination where heritage, community engagement and contemporary creativity come together.