Helen L Smith - Double Decker

Introducing Double Decker sponsored by FirstBus Group, painted and designed by Helen L Smith.

Double Decker, is inspired by the striped and colourful shapes of Norwich Market on a sunny day, with blue sky and clouds.

I studied the view one day last Summer when I was shopping in the city and stopped for my lunch near the market, and so I had that image in my thoughts when I was designing the dragon. I wanted the bright colours to look dazzling next to the blue of his body.

I have been working as a freelance illustrator near Colchester for many years. Normally I work pretty small, designing images for greetings cards, embroidery kits and gift products, so it was great to get away from the desk and paint something large and 3D for a change. I enjoyed painting a giant giraffe for Colchester Zoo’s Stand Tall trail in 2013, so when I heard about the dragons I was keen to have a new challenge.