Artwork for sheds in need of a makeover

GARDEN sheds have been given a floral makeover to brighten up allotments.

Artist Elena Thomas has covered two sheds at Basford allotments in brightly coloured fabrics – and now other gardeners want to follow suit.

STANDING OUT: Textile artist Elena Thomas, above, puts the finishing touches to one of the sheds at Basford allotments. The teacher has transformed some of the structures from drab wooden buildings, left, into brightly coloured works of art, bottom.

Allotment owners Alastair Young and partner Jude Hawes were chosen for the makeover after spotting Elena's advert, which asked for volunteers for her art project.

Art teacher Elena, who lives in Birmingham, is using donated fabric to complete the designs as part of an art project for a teaching course at Birmingham City University.

She said: "I was looking at applying decoration to unusual surfaces. It came in a blinding flash of inspiration.

"I was sitting in the garden and wondered why we paint sheds green to make them disappear when other things we paint to make them stand out.

"I immediately started transforming my own shed, to my husband's bemusement, and wanted to see if the idea would be a hit with others.

"I wasn't sure how it was going to look but I loved it as soon as I started."

Elena hopes to return to Basford to decorate more sheds later this year. She uses a waterproof glue to stick the fabric to the wood, and brushes it over with wax.

Programmer Alastair, aged 43, from Basford, has had his allotment, with two sheds, for five years and grows everything from sweetcorn and tomatoes to strawberries and blackberries. He said: "When I saw pictures of Elena's shed I thought it looked really interesting and different, and it could cheer up the allotment.

"I go there three or four times a week and take great pride in my allotment and shed. I was confident Elena could use her artistic flair to improve it.

"Now it's looking really good. It makes my shed stand out, but at the same time the fabric doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

"There's been quite a bit of interest from other gardeners.

" I think it will give me a smile when I go down there."

Basford Allotments Association treasurer Stuart Aitchison added: "It's good that people are taking care of their allotments and anything that improves the area and makes it look nicer is to be encouraged – though it must be within the council's rules."