Can you spot our High Street Hero in Beatles-inspired Blake artwork?

A legendary British pop artist who designed the iconic cover for the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper album has profiled a Berkhamsted businesswoman in his latest artwork.
By Victoria Bull
Published 27th Nov 2014, 08:31 BST
Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American ExpressEileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express
Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express

Sir Peter Blake – the brains behind the famous Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band artwork – has recreated a similar image with the aim of supporting ‘High Street Heroes’ and small businesses.

From thousands of entries, the manager of a Berkhamsted antiques store was chosen to be one of 40 firms included in the montage, which can be downloaded for free for a limited period in order to encourage people to ‘shop local’ on Saturday, December 6.

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Eileen Foxwell of Home & Colonial, on the town’s High Street, said of the honour: “Being an independent antiques shop gives us the opportunity to constantly find and provide unique items that you just don’t get anywhere else.

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Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express PNL-141126-122717001Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express PNL-141126-122717001
Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express PNL-141126-122717001

“A Sir Peter Blake piece of art is not something many people are lucky enough to be part of and we’re thrilled that he has chosen us.”

The antiques and interiors shop prides itself on providing uniquepieces of furniture, vintage clothing and jewellery to the local community andbeyond.

With a constantly changing line-up of items to suit everyone’s needs, the shop has more than 30 specialist antique dealers who can provide help and advice for what’s on display.

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Sir Peter, whose new work features a total of 61 shopkeepers from the 40 firms, said: “Small shops and the Great British shopkeeper have been at the forefront of British culture for hundreds of years now.

Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express PNL-141126-122728001Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express PNL-141126-122728001
Eileen Foxwell from Home & Colonial in Berkhamsted is featured among 40 small businesses in Sir Peter Blakes new work called High Street Heroes. Photo: American Express PNL-141126-122728001

“The notion of a ‘Nation of Shopkeepers’ is embedded in our folklore and the wonderful variety of today’s independent shops as well as the character that small businesses bring to a local area make theman ideal subject matter for modern pop art.

“I am thrilled to be lending my support to a campaign that champions small businesses.”

Sir Peter’s latest work has been commissioned by American Express which founded the Small Business Saturday initiatve in the US and is active supporting of the grassroots campaign in the UK.

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The project aims to encourage people to shop in local businesses on December 6 and beyond.

About Sir Peter Blake:

> He is often referred to as the ‘Godfather’ of the British pop-art scene in the late 1950s and ‘60s

> He is best known for his artwork on The Beatles’ Grammy Award-winning album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

> He also designed the cover for the 1984 Band Aid single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Paul Weller’s Stanley Road album and the 2006 Oasis greatest hits album Stop the Clocks

>Blake’s work is inspired by his love affair with icons and the ephemera of popular culture

> In 1983 he became a CBE and in 2002 he received a knighthood for his services to art

Related topics:Berkhamsted