My personal passion for collecting inspired me to initiate a project celebrating the dedication and enthusiasm of fellow collectors. During this journey, I encountered a variety of collectors from Glasgow, with each meeting reigniting my own fervor—especially my encounter with Kenneth Hay, a collector of Scotland's vintage buses. Over more than 20 years, Kenneth amassed an impressive collection, including not only buses but also an extensive array of bus memorabilia.
Kenneth's stories about his collection, from childhood memories to family anecdotes, inspired me to share his passion with a broader audience. I began by narrowing down my research, focusing on his first bus, the Strathclyde EBS 186. Using this bus as inspiration, I deconstructed various parts and elements of the bus, simplifying them into shapes and forms, and ultimately blending them into artworks. As I progressed, my motivation shifted from merely celebrating collections to celebrating transport through his first bus.
Screenprinting became my primary medium for this project. I created a limited edition of 10 screen-printed publications that capture the essence and playfulness of Kenneth's bus. These publications incorporate colorful strokes and simplified shapes, blending elements from his first bus with collage cutouts to highlight its patterns.
Additionally, I produced a series of large-scale (82 cm by 127 cm) screen-printed artworks. These pieces, cut into shapes to form the side of one of Kenneth’s buses, aim to convey the shared enthusiasm and celebration of a vintage bus to viewers. Utilizing bold abstractions inspired by Kenneth’s extensive collection and the intertwined narratives, the artworks capture the essence of his profound passion and the stories that fuel it.
Currently, the project is evolving towards developing these screen-printed designs into various forms of textiles, with plans to collaborate further with fellow illustrators in the field.
