Sir Peter Blake unveils his Gatwick art installation

The godfather of British pop art has created a body of work that celebrates all that is great about the city and will provide a warm welcome to visitors.

The ‘London’ collection, which is being installed in both Gatwick’s North and South terminals, depicts the city through the ages, including iconic buildings and locations, and capturing London’s cosmopolitan and multicultural spirit.

This is a permanent installation at Gatwick, designed to continue the legacy of ‘Brand Britain’ and inspire the British public for many years to come.

Each terminal will feature 12 pieces in total. ‘Teaser’ vinyls run along the piers allowing passengers to become immersed in the artwork from the moment they step off the plane right through to the time they reach the baggage halls in the North and South Terminals where they will see the on canvass collection. The whole display was curated by CCA Galleries, one of the major galleries with whom Sir Peter Blake has been collaborating with over the past decade.

This initiative was inspired by insights from the Airport Passenger Panel and Gatwick’s own passengers who strongly felt that UK airports need a ‘heart and soul’, and to give visitors, or people returning home after holidays, a real sense of arrival in Britain.

Sir Peter Blake, a grandee of British Art, commented: "This project instantly captured my imagination – a chance to showcase London to an international public and to remind Brits how great it is to be back on British soil. I hope it will provide a sense of welcome and that everyone who travels through Gatwick will share my love for both art and London and that they are able to relate to these pieces in some way.”

Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive Stewart Wingate, commented: “After listening to passengers, we felt it was time to inject more life and colour into the airport and bring to life the vibrancy and dynamism of the main city we’re a gateway to – London. And who better to take on the challenge than Sir Peter Blake, a British icon in his own right. We can’t wait to see passenger reactions as they travel through arrivals.”

Gatwick is committed to delivering the best airport experience for its passengers. This latest collaboration with Sir Peter Blake is in addition to the airport’s ongoing multimillion pound investment programme that aims to improve airport services and facilities to make the experience as enjoyable stress-free as possible for all passengers.