Shrewsbury High Street transformed as dynamic new summer art installation takes flight

Commissioned by the Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID), the vibrant new exhibition replaces the printed vinyl formats that have dressed the High Street since before the COVID pandemic.

Local artist Clare Scarlett designed the installation in response to the Shrewsbury Arts Trail’s 2026 theme of ‘Impressions’. The newly installed artworks utilise a meticulously chosen mix of materials designed to catch and reflect natural light, shifting in colour and character as the wind speed, light levels, and the sun's position alter throughout the day. The result is an ever-changing spectacle that casts moving reflections of colour onto the historic road and surrounding buildings from morning until evening.

Bringing the ambitious vision to life required overcoming significant engineering hurdles. The artist and her husband, Rob Scarlett, worked closely with local firm Potters Electrical to design and manufacture bespoke fixings. This collaboration ensured the flags can move and rotate freely in the breeze without tangling or falling, a technical triumph that required the development of entirely new frames and multiple testing sessions. The cost of these specialist fixings was part-funded by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership as part of its Vitality, Life & Mix project for 2026-27.

Councillor Alex Wagner, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth at Shropshire Council, a partner in the Big Town Plan, said of the new display, "Creating a vibrant and welcoming town centre is hugely important for supporting local businesses, encouraging footfall and strengthening Shrewsbury's visitor economy. The annual display above the High Street has become a distinctive part of that atmosphere, and it's great to see the Big Town Plan's vitality funding supporting bigger and more ambitious displays which can keep evolving year on year." 

Emma Molyneux, who led the project at Shrewsbury BID, said, "The High Street dressing is one of those things that people always notice when they visit Shrewsbury over the summer months – the display adds omething to the atmosphere of the High Street that's hard to put a name to, but easy to feel. This year we wanted to push the concept further, and working with Clare has given us something genuinely special. The display changes with the weather and the time of day, which feels exactly right for a town centre that's always in motion." 

Reflecting on the creative process, designer Clare Scarlett said the 'Impressions' theme gave her total creative freedom to explore how materials behave in the open air, particularly how light moves through fabric and how different textures respond to the breeze. She praised Buck from Potters Electrical for taking the engineering challenges in stride, noting that once the fixings were approved, it was simply a matter of dedicating many hours to fabricating and sewing the collection. She expressed her hope that shoppers and residents will take a moment to look up and notice the shifting display.

The designer brings a wealth of high-profile experience to the project, having studied Textile Design at Birmingham City University before working with major brands such as Habitat and Made.com. Her diverse career also includes a number of years in airline interior design, collaborating with international manufacturers for carriers including Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. More recently, she has focused on community-based art across Shropshire, having previously designed the 2025 High Street flags and a community installation at the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.

The flags will remain on display above the High Street throughout the summer months, acting as a grand prelude to the Shrewsbury Arts Trail. Now in its sixth year, the trail runs from 4 July to 31 August with the mission of bringing free, high-quality art to the public. This year’s ‘Impressions’ theme will see a series of exhibitions and events launch at multiple venues across the town, including the flagship ‘Inspirational’ exhibition hosted at the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.