WORK on the first of two official art designs to commemorate the Tour De France coming to Essex starts tomorrow (June 24).
Nicola Burrell will start mowing her 10-hectare design at North Weald Airfield with help from Writtle College students.
She said: "There is a great tradition during the Tour de France of memorable meadow art for the Tour de France and I'm very proud to have been asked to create something to help show Essex off to the world.
"The airfield is a perfect space for my design which is aimed at encapsulating the feeling of speed.
"The juxtaposition of the actual racing bikes and the 'static' land art will express a sense of motion, and create an exciting moment in the race.
"I've taken inspiration from the shapes of the bicycles, riders and slip streams, and I think the design represents the dynamism and excitement which is the Tour de France."
The site for the meadow art has been carefully chosen so it can be seen from the air.
Media and graphic artist Elaine Tribley will create road art using a combination of the colours of the Tour jerseys and the seaxe symbols on the Essex County flag on the road surface.
She will use stencils and liquid chalk to create the work in four locations along the route - one in every district the tour passes through - taking 30 minutes to complete each one on the day of the Tour.
Both pieces of work are part of the 'Tour de France – Creating the Way' cultural project which has received £54,000 of funding, including £17,000 from Arts Council England and £18,000 from Royal Opera House Bridge.
Stage three of the Tour De France starts on Monday July 7.
