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THE ART OF CYCLING
Purveyors of beautiful bicycles for 20 years in York, Cycle Heaven have never been shy to show their creative side. True to form, their second store at York rail station has just been graced with beautiful new artwork from York-born, Berlinbased illustrator Emily Hayes. We chat to Emily about the new sign… Q. How did the commission come about? I am originally from York and very familiar with Cycle Heaven as my family also ran Pextons Hardware and now run another shop; Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop on the same street, Bishopthorpe Road. I’ve worked with Cycle Heaven for a few years now. Q. Can you talk us through your inspiration for the sign? My research led me to a lot of interesting archived photography and artwork from the York Railway Museum Archive, from the York Station bombing in World War II, through to original LNER railway posters advertising idyllic British holidays by train.
Inspiration also came from the bold compositions and colours in Soviet propaganda posters and lettering on vintage packaging designs from the 1950s. I’m also an admirer of artists such as Cyril Power and Lynd Ward, and the contemporary prints of ATAK (Georg Barber). Q. What feelings do you hope it evokes? The design can be read as a narrative map, with different moments, people and places in time played out over a panorama. I hope the sign evokes the different sides of cycling culture; from the romance of country getaways through to getting from A to B in busy, urban lifestyles. It is important for the sign to capture the essence of Yorkshire; its charm, wonderful landscape, range of architecture, friendliness and humour, past and present. As the new ‘Cycle Heaven’ shop is situated in York Station itself, an entrance to the city, it was an important factor of the commission to capture the spirit of the city as well as creating a design centred on the shop and cycling. www.cycle-heaven.co.uk York Railway Station, 01904 622701 / 630378 2 Bishopthorpe Road, 01904 636578 / 672059