Barrow's Giant Toile de Jouy Celebrates Local Life and Landmarks
A massive fabric artwork featuring 80 Barrow images brings the town’s people, shops and iconic sights to life in a community-spirited tribute.
Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria introduces a striking textile artwork that celebrates the town’s people, places, and history. The piece layers 80 local images onto a single fabric, creating a large toile de Jouy that serves as a living tribute to Barrow.
A giant toile de Jouy piece
The design uses toile de Jouy, a traditional pattern style that originated in 18th-century France. While classic versions feature nine panels, this Barrow installation expands to eighty, reflecting the town’s many stories and characters.
The artwork was created by Karen Evans and Maddy Humberstone in collaboration with Theatre Factory and now hangs at the company’s Cookes Building base on Abbey Road.
Residents say the project captures Barrow’s spirit, describing it as a meaningful tribute to the town they love.
Local artists describe the piece as a perfect way to tell Barrow’s story and celebrate its community.
What’s on the fabric
- Chewie the Chewitsaurus, referencing a 1980s Chewits TV ad filmed in Barrow
- Arctic tern, a seabird often seen over nearby South Walney
- Bon Bon sweet shop, once run by Betty Wilkinson and Wynn Dawson
- Dave Day, a tribute to Hairy Biker Dave Myers who died in February 2024
- Barrow AFC football club and Barrow Raiders rugby league team
- Barrow Underground Music Society
Beyond the show floor
The artwork forms the backdrop for Theatre Factory’s year-long drama festival, IF! Inclusion, and will be reproduced on cushions, tote bags and makeup bags.
Evans recalls a friend crying with joy upon seeing the piece and jokes about turning it into curtains. She even dreams of sewing a dress inspired by the design.
The two artists met in 1993 at Barrow Sixth Form College, studying textiles, and say their collaboration has been a joy from the start.
“The result feels like a true tribute to this remarkable town, with so many details inviting people to discover something new each time they look,” Evans says. “Barrow appears as all of us – a community of people who love it.”
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Expert comment
Expert comment: Public art that blends local history with community participation helps residents connect with their town in a meaningful way and grows local pride. The project also shows how collaborative, craft-based work can reach wide audiences.
Short summary
This Barrow project turns a traditional textile technique into a contemporary celebration of community life. Created by two local artists with Theatre Factory, the 80-image fabric is now a centerpiece at the Cookes Building and a symbol of Barrow’s vibrant identity. Plans to reproduce the design on everyday items extend its reach beyond the stage.
Key insight: Community art that merges local heritage with shared pride can transform how residents relate to their town. BBC News
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