It’s almost two years since I first sketched out this drawing. It all began with a coffee at the Pig and Pastry and somehow the word has got around that this is one extraordinary street. Hearing that Bishy Road has been awarded the honour of becoming Britain’s No 1 Great British High Street was such good news today.
That’s a huge amount of community effort, dedication and commitment spent over many years, led by Johnny Hayes of Frankie and Johnny’s cookshop and with a whole raft of participation in and beyond this remarkable street.
A corner of the Bishy Road on a January morning a few years ago.
Frankie and Johnny’s fly the yellow bunting for the Tour de Yorkshire
Congratulations Bishy Road! Enjoy your big moment. You show how it is possible to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.
The Bishy Road – decked out to greet Le Tour de Yorkshire!
This has to be the most dynamic and colourful street I have drawn so far!
The intention to draw the Bishy Road began on a spring day in 2013, over elevenses at the Pig & Pastry. It has come to fruition amidst a summer frenzy ahead of Le Tour de Yorkshire. The Bishy Road is ready! Vive Le Tour!
Now my husband is a Tour fan and having joined him to see several stages in France over the years, it is tremendous fun. For those of you who have never been – get over to York – it will be wild! The colour, music and carnival floats followed by these superhuman bikers is unmissable.
Waiting for Wiggo, Paris 2010
I understand (sort of) that for allsorts of reasons, Sir Bradley won’t be riding in this year’s Tour, which to me is a loss given how much he contributed to getting the Tour over here for us. However, I hope he will be watching as the Tour passes along the Bishy Road – York is aflame! This link to the York Press gives you a flavour.
I am running off a limited edition set of 199 prints of the Bishy Road drawing – which marks the 198 cyclists in this year’s Tour – plus one. The first print off is heading for Sir Brad of the Bish – just as a small thank you to him on behalf of this great street.
I have had tremendous fun interacting with some of the Bishy Roaders and hope to meet a few at the street party on 6th July. I only wish I had started sooner to include the opposite side and Cycle Heaven (which is next on the drawing board) but I have been burning the midnight oil to get this one finished.
Painting sky over the Bishie road
Please do click over to the website www.drawingthestreet.co.uk and have a look at the street as a whole. Prints, cards post cards etc all on their way….meanwhile, please use any screen grabs for your community use, but I would be delighted if you would acknowledge Drawing the Street. I have shared some good quality images on my website (you miss out on the detail if I scale it down), but I am a self-employed working artist and if you do wish to use the images commercially – please get in touch and I am sure we can work out rates which work well for us all. This may be my drawing, but it is also your street.
Colourful shop fronts: Frankie and Johnny’s, Rice Style, Lal Quila, Pextons, Puddin & Pie
Last of all: thank you Bishy Roaders! You really are something pretty special.
Drawing the Street 