A stunning giant picture map has been gifted to the Somerset town of Langport following a dedicated 20-month community project. Crafted by nine talented local women, the colorful artwork took an impressive 1,000 hours of volunteer time to complete.
The map vividly depicts Langport and Huish Episcopi, featuring over 300 buildings alongside everyday scenes such as market stalls, cars, post vans, cyclists, the iconic Slinky bus, and even the local sewage works. The River Parrett flows through the artwork, brought to life with boats, canoes, paddleboarders, a pumping station, a heron, and fish.
The project was inspired by Kate Lynch, who shared her vision with Sarah Peterkin and Jill Lister in summer 2023. Together, they began sketching and photographing buildings, creating a large-scale plan for the map. Miniature buildings were carefully painted on paper using acrylics, then cut out and glued on. Work sessions took place every Tuesday morning and continued through the winter months.
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In 2024, six more women joined the team: Liz Charles, Frances Axford, Kate Derrick, Jennifer Elliott, Patsy Mounter, and Gina Westbrook. Piece by piece, the map came to life, with streets, alleyways, schools, pubs, a sports centre, and town allotments appearing. The surrounding hills and fields were also skillfully painted to complete the scene.
The artists fondly recall their time together, filled with “giggles, sighs, focused silence, and many cups of coffee.”
Their finished masterpiece, titled Between the River and the Railway — a nod to a local folk song known by one group member — is a fitting tribute to the community it represents.
The framed 88x140 cm picture will be unveiled on Friday, June 13, at the Bridge Canteen in Langport. It will remain on display until September. Supported by a grant from the Town Council and Langport Area Business Group, framed prints and postcards of the artwork are also available for purchase.