Sidmouth School of Art is delighted to present “Puzzle 4 Sidmouth” by Bob and Roberta Smith, continuing in its vision to inspire and encourage creativity in everyone and to integrate art into the everyday.
Sidmouth Wallspace is a public gallery overlooking the Ham Car Park, a perfect location to support the aim to widen access through art in usual places and spaces. The billboard changes every six to 8 weeks to bring artworks that use different mediums, some involve many community participants, some the work of local artists and as with this latest work, present the work of artists of national significance.
Bob and Roberta Smith, the creative pseudonym of Patrick Brill, stands at the forefront of British contemporary art. Renowned for his bold poster and slogan works, he fuses the traditions of sign writing, activism, and the ingenuity of repurposed materials.
His practice is rooted in the conviction that art is an essential element in democratic life. This artwork is a vibrant testament to his interactive philosophy.
Using his signature painted slogans, playful lettering, and dynamic colours, the piece forms a visual puzzle—inviting curiosity and prompting viewers to closely examine and decipher its message. In doing so, Smith transforms public space into a platform for dialogue and exploration.
The artist has captured public imagination with pieces such as All Schools Should Be Art Schools and Make Art Not War. These slogan-driven works, in his distinctive hand-painted style, have become visual rallying calls for the value of creativity and the necessity of arts education.
The artist’s project Thamesmead CODEX, created in 2021 and displayed at Tate Modern until May 2024, exemplified his deep commitment to community engagement. By documenting the histories and identities of Thamesmead and its diverse residents, Smith created a living archive that celebrates local voices. This influential work inspired Sidmouth School of Art’s own CODEX - Digital and Print Project | Sidmouth School Of Art project, which empowered Sidmouth young people to express themselves, championing their voices through creativity and reinforcing advocacy for arts education.
By empowering others through creative expression and challenging audiences to look, think, and question, Smith’s work keeps art at the centre of democratic conversation and cultural vitality in communities like ours.
Sidmouth School of Art’s Other Current Public Outdoor Exhibitions currently showing:
A Sidmouth Folk Festival Portrait by JJ Waller and Kyle Baker – continues through the Autumn at Riverside Art Space, the Sensory Garden.
This follow-on exhibition of the Your Town My Town project which began in 2024, presents some of the vibrant views that you may see on Sidmouth streets the first week of every August. JJ’s images taken during the 70th anniversary of the festival are featured alongside Sidmouth’s own photographer and videographer, Kyle Baker. 12 public submissions are also on show. Find out more here A Sidmouth Folk Festival Portrait | Sidmouth School Of Art
The exhibition in the newly created Riverside Art Space in the Sensory Garden is located at the end of the Ham in Sidmouth. The work is displayed on five ‘gabion’ baskets in the garden and the building at the location which connects people, place art and nature.
Also still showing at Sidmouth’s telephone box art spaces: The Micro Museum of Contemporary Art houses A SMALL QUIET ENGLISH TOWN with artefacts, audio and memorabilia highlighted in this award-winning documentary by TPLfilms. Whilst Traditions of Folk in the Micro Museum of Antiquities displays curios, poetry and images that chart the evolution of the festival.
Find out more here A Small Quiet English Town & Traditions of Sidmouth Folk Festival | Sidmouth School Of Art
Supporting Art and Culture in the community…
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Donations to support Sidmouth School of Arts work can be made via SSA’s website Donate | Sidmouth School Of Art (sidmouthart.org).
Sidmouth School of Art is about creativity and wellbeing through art and culture. Co-founder David Shrigley, OBE: “Art is about discovering what something means to you and expressing what you think and feel.”
Encouraging and engaging with art and our creative selves is a path to wellbeing and happiness.