Land art to be created by Felixstowe children

Posted by on 5 September 2024 | Comments

Felixstowe children have found an eye-catching way to celebrate the final stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men finishing in their town on 8 September.

During the summer term, children at Langer Primary Academy on Langer Road spent time with local artist Jim Lait to generate ideas for a giant piece of land art celebrating the Tour of Britain Men.

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men - Britain's biggest professional cycle race - is coming to East Suffolk on Sunday 8 September, with the race starting on Lowestoft seafront, travelling 158km through the district and finishing in Felixstowe.

A combination of several of the children's designs was chosen by a panel of judges and Jim has been working over the summer to put the final design together. With help from the children, Jim will be painting the giant artwork onto the school field on 5 and 6 September. The artwork will then be visible during the aerial Tour of Britain coverage on television.

Jim Lait said: "I enjoy a challenge and like to encourage others in their artistic endeavours. I see this project for Langer Primary Academy, painting the grass mural derived from the children's ideas and with their help, as both a challenge and an opportunity to encourage people of all ages to try painting."

Jo Morgan-Soane Headteacher of Langer Primary Academy said: "The Langer pupils have gained so much by working alongside the talented artist Jim Lait. It's been a truly inspiring experience to see their ideas come to life in his final artwork. This project has not only nurtured their creativity but also given them a sense of pride in contributing to something that the whole community can see, share, and celebrate."

Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council's cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: "This is a wonderful way for local children to get involved with the Tour of Britain Men and we would like to thank all at the school, and of course Jim, for their hard work in creating this artwork, which we hope will be seen by those watching race coverage around the world. We are delighted that the school has chosen to be involved with the Tour of Britain in this way, as we have worked hard to bring the race to East Suffolk again this year."

Photos of the artwork will be available once it has been installed.

Full Tour of Britain information

Jim Lait is an acrylic painter and watercolourist who has been painting for over 40 years, having first studied at Worthing College of Art and Design. Jim paints seascapes, skyscapes and landscapes of our beautiful East Anglian countryside and shows his work locally and online on Instagram and Facebook.

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