Caroline Dowsett in Covent Garden
Manchester-based artist and maker, Caroline Dowsett, has brought her signature artwork to Covent Garden’s East Piazza. Using a palette of bold, colourful shades from Little Greene, she painted the benches in a lively, spring-inspired design that adds real vibrancy to the iconic historic setting.
We caught up with Caroline to find out the inspiration behind the project, and discover which Little Greene colours were used to bring her designs to life…
1. Tell us about your Covent Garden spring bench project! What was the brief and what was your inspiration?
The Covent Garden Spring Bench project is inspired by the brightness, and optimism that spring brings – the new beginnings and hope we can feel coming out of winter. I conveyed this messaging through the vibrant palette and movement of expressed lines on the benches.”
2. What Little Greene colours did you use? How did you choose this palette?
“I chose this palette through many rounds of refinement, and from two digital pieces I made for Covent Garden, using spring as the inspiration.”
![Whitening™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23f4f2e5" /></svg>)
![Garden™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23739153" /></svg>)
![Indian Yellow™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23ede068" /></svg>)
![Tivoli®](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%235c8ea9" /></svg>)
![Deep Space Blue™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23003b59" /></svg>)
![Pink Slip®](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23e8d0cb" /></svg>)
![Jack Black™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23040e0f" /></svg>)
![Sage & Onions™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23638538" /></svg>)
![Purpleheart™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23432f5a" /></svg>)
![Linnet™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23f6f2d7" /></svg>)
3. How does it feel having your work showcased in such an iconic London location?
“I felt, and still feel, very excited by this! When I do travel down to London, I always love to have a walk around the Covent Garden area, it feels so vibrant and inspiring. To have my benches there on the Piazza for people to meet their friends/family, take their lunch break, have a chill…It’s a really lovely project to be involved in.”
4. What are some of the reasons you love using Little Greene paints in your projects?
“I actually never use any other paints now for my murals! The quality is just unmatched, and the colour opacity, palette and finish are the best. The paints themselves mix so well too for when I have the bespoke colour palettes for my pieces. It feels great to use a company that is local to me, and a brand that is eco conscious.”
5. Do you have any upcoming projects using Little Greene? Can you share any teasers with us?
“I do! I have just finished painting three murals for a local primary school, where they had been learning about my art for a project the past term. It’s been such a lovely project!
I also am working with the new-to-Manchester ‘Treehouse Hotel’. I will be painting a mural for their space, and working with them on their Manchester Flower Show installation, using Little Greene paints, of course!”
Caroline is also the designer behind our Re:mix tin – a collection of honest, upcycled paints made from left-over and waste paints, available in a palette of 20 Little Greene colours.
