Edinburgh artist’s flyer-way success

A capital artist has created a unique exhibition of work using discarded flyers from this summer’s Edinburgh Festival.

Wendy Helliwell created the artworks with discarded flyers and magazine pages after being appointed Artist in Residence at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh during the Festival in August.

Pictures depict iconic views of the “Festival city”, including the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle viewed from Princes Street Gardens.

Another, three dimensional, work titled “Festival Lips” is made from a pair of upcycled jeans filled with recycled fabrics and covered with pieces cut out from hundreds of flyers advertising shows at this summer’s Festival Fringe.

The denim lips are covered in brightly coloured cuttings from flyers against a background of contrasting monochrome cuttings, pieced together like a jigsaw.

Wendy, 53, used flyers that had been distributed on the city streets to promote shows and then thrown away, as well as pieces of pages from Festival magazines.

The Festival-themed city scenes were sanded down and layered with acrylic paints, inks, watercolours and pastels while leaving text from the flyers visible.

Wendy then added figures from fashion magazines dressed “paper doll style” in cutout clothing to “bring the artworks to life” and create instantly recognisable bustling scenes from the capital.

She created all of the works in an artist’s studio in the Unicorn Room at the Virgin Hotel in Victoria Street, and even signs her name on her artworks using cutout letters.

They are now being showcased at the hotel before eventually going on sale for around £1,000 each.

Speaking at the launch of her exhibition, Wendy said: “I select flyers where I think the colours will work well and work on top of them with acrylic paints, inks, pastels, layering up until I’m happy with the composition.

“Although I worked on top of the flyers to build up the scene, I always ensured there was enough visibility of their previous life and texts behind the paint.

“The very last piece of the jigsaw is the people who bring them to life.”

Among the works is “High Street Harmony”, depicting a view looking down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood.

Another, “High Street Hustle”, is a bustling scene looking up the Royal Mile towards Edinburgh Castle’s Esplanade and the grandstand that overlooks the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Festival time.

Meanwhile, “Fountain Frolics” shows the 19th century Ross Fountain in West Princes Street Gardens and the imposing Edinburgh Castle.

“Festival Lips” follows previous three dimensional lips pieces by Wendy, “celebrating fashion and culture with a fun twist”.

She said: “Of course I had to do Lips to celebrate the Festival. I always use a pair of jeans as the shell, filled with recycled fabric, but leave a nod to their previous lifespan as well so you can see belt loops, buttons, pockets.”

Wendy will continue to create artworks at the hotel as part of her residency until October.

She said: “The pictures of Edinburgh show the incredible architecture of the city together with the hustle bustle and energy on the streets during the Festival.

“It’s the people who bring them to life.”

She added: “I feel like my works captured a moment in time, Fringe 2024, using these discarded items and preserving them.

“But as well as giving a positive message about considering our environment I want it to be in a fun way and for the works to give off a positive energy.

“There seems to be a move towards digital and if we go paperless in the future then maybe they will become even more unique and special.”

Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: “This is a really exciting time for Virgin Hotels Edinburgh as we showcase our new Artist in Residence, Wendy.

“Wendy is unbelievably talented, and her innovative approach to repurposing discarded materials into unique, three-dimensional art is truly inspiring.
 
“This residency (has) provided Wendy with a special opportunity to capture Edinburgh at its very best, with many of her new pieces on display taking inspiration from the Fringe.

“Guests and visitors can book in to meet Wendy and go on an exclusive tour of her studio, to see where the magic unfolds until the end of October.”