“I’M absolutely chuffed to bits – it’s fantastic!” that was the verdict of local MP Rachel Maclean after taking possession of a painting by Redditch’s own watertower art guru Steve Pound.
Mrs Maclean, fascinated by Steve’s depictions of the Redditch landmark, had commissioned him to produce a work of art worthy of reminding her of her constituency while she was working at Westminster.
The result – the saucer shaped top of the watertower turned into a mysterious spaceship hovering over the Houses of Parliament, it’s shimmering shape reflected on the surface of the River Thames – left the MP stunned.
“I absolutely love it – it’s so original and evocative,” she said.
“How he has created it is amazing – and no one else will have anything like it in Parliament.
“I wanted to showcase the work of a local artist and the talent we have here in Redditch and I am chuffed to bits with what Steve has done.”
For his part, Steve, a member of the Green Party, admitted he had originally thought of having the watertower blowing up the Houses of Parliament.
“I ran the idea passed Rachel but she said ‘oh no, you can’t do that’ so I had to put away the lasers and think of a way of conveying the mass of Redditch to Westminster to remind her of the responsibilities she has to the people here.
“I certainly think it’s eye-catching and will hopefully grab people’s attention in the corridors of power.”
