Designer leaves colourful legacy after death

A man who worked to make his city more colourful has had his vision realised in a lasting tribute to him after his death.

Marcus Willcocks, an urban designer from Windmill Hill in Bristol, said before he died from leukaemia in June that he hoped newly-installed black bollards on Whitehouse Lane, which runs through the area, would be painted in a variety of colours.

The installation was recently completed using designs from local artist The Hass, building on their previous bollard artwork on nearby East Street in Bedminster.

Co-founder of street art festival Upfest Stephen Hayles, who oversaw the project, said the art has had an "emotional resonance within the local community".

Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, he said: "One lady came past with her child and she was just like - oh we've been doing rainbow colours, teaching my child about colours on the way to nursery.

"There was another Windmill Hill resident who came down and we told them [what we were doing] and you could see his eyes watering up because of what Marcus was leaving for the community."

Mr Willcocks, a Research Fellow at University of the Arts London (UAL) and Senior Urban Designer with Sustrans, reached out to Mr Hayles three weeks before he died to propose the idea.

Mr Hayles said: "He'd had this idea and knew the illness was terminal, but he wanted to do something that left a bit of a legacy for the area and for his community.

"Marcus's humility and focus on others, even in the final days of his life, struck a deep chord with those who knew him.

"He understood that small changes in the urban environment could create moments of joy, reflection and connection.

"For him, this wasn't about bollards. It was about people, place and the everyday journey."

In a statement, the installation team thanked Bristol City Council for securing swift approvals so Mr Willcocks could be told the project would ago ahead before his passing.

Marta Salva Cifuentes, Mr Willcocks' wife, said: "We love these bollards. Every time I walk with Joel and Ruben [Marcus' sons] near them, it makes us think about Marcus.

"We are sure he would have been so happy to see this project coming to life."

The project was funded by MyMural and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

Upfest, who managed the original East Street installation, donated additional time and materials to the initiative to enable 122 of the bollards to be painted and maximise its visual impact.

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