News: See Monet for nothing in Rotherham town centre

The largest piece of artwork has been added to the open air gallery in Rotherham town centre.

A stunning reproduction of The Water-Lily Pond by Claude Monet, the French artist who was a leading member of the Impressionist group of painters, is now in place on the side of Bailey House.

It is part of 'Gallery Town', a unique project that aims to help the regeneration of Rotherham town centre and increase the number of visitors.

The project is the brainchild of a group of local entrepreneurs working alongside the board of the Rotherham LSP (Local Strategic Partnership), who came up with the idea as a way to attract more visitors and to help create more trade for local businesses.

Up to 60 huge pieces of artwork - including work by Rotherham students, local artists and some of the world's greatest painters - have already been installed in key locations around the town as part of the first phase.

Award-winning Rotherham company, Rainforest Graphics, installed the largest piece, which measures 6m x 6m, in the prominent position on Rawmarsh Road in November.

The building is currently being fitted out as the new home of the council’s heritage and archives services and The York & Lancaster Regimental Museum.

Nick Cragg, chairman of Stafforce and member of the Rotherham LSP Board, who is spearheading the project, said: "The Monet looks fantastic. It is in a great location next to Centenary Way, one of the busiest routes in the town.

"The local community and visitors to Rotherham will get to see an important painting that is usually reserved for those taking in the collection at The National Gallery in London.

"It is one of around 250 oil paintings that Monet produced of his own gardens in Giverny during the last thirty years of his life. They are amongst the most recognised and celebrated works of the 20th Century and were hugely influential."

The Autumn and Winter 2011 Art Trail for the first phase of the project is now available to download from the Gallery Town website at www.gallerytown.org.uk . It will guide visitors around the town, pointing out the location and details of the art, from the obvious, to those hidden away waiting to be discovered.

Gallery Town website

Images: Gallery Town