The artist behind Thatcham's colourful Broadway bollards

Thatcham High Street has been given a pop of colour recently with the Broadway bollards looking a little bit different.

The once-plain posts that run alongside the shops now each tell a story thanks to Thatcham-based artist Simon Jardine.

Each street art illustration has been inspired by a different local shop, service or view.

Mr Jardine has been making art since around 2003 and, as well as painting, he runs an illustration studio, Armadillo Images, specialising in humorous illustration, caricature and hand drawn animation.

He said the project was a commission from Thatcham Town Council, who were familiar with his work.

Upon seeing his creations dotted through the Broadway, he said it was “really exciting” to see his artwork printed the size that it was given that they were smaller when paintings.

He said: “This is just something I like doing.

“I had a day on each one to complete the art work which then went to the printers.

“The beach one was the first that I did. I painted it last year just to see if it would all work.”

Taking a walk down the Broadway for inspiration, he said: “I walked up and down the High Street to work out what would be interesting.

“I thought it could be really Thatcham based, general paintings seems a bit pointless.”

Among the 16 designs Mr Jardine said one of his favourites was inspired by local South African store Sa Zim which featured South African animals from giraffes to crocodiles.

Mr Jardone said the designs are an attempt to show off what Thatcham has to offer in a positive way. In addition he wanted them to illustrate the High Street as “somewhere to go”.

“It is just really nice to see them,” he said.