Shrewsbury's annual summer High Street installation gets a new look

An annual town centre installation has returned but has taken a new direction this year.

The displays in High Street, Shrewsbury, have been commissioned by the town's business improvement district and feature hand-sewn, multi-material displays for 2026.

These have replaced the usual vinyl prints that have featured on the High Street since before the covid-19 pandemic.

Designed by local artist Clare Scarlett in response to the 2026 Shrewsbury Arts Trail theme of 'Impressions', the new artworks have been created from a mix of materials chosen for the way they catch and reflect light.

The BID said they shifted in colour and character as wind speed, light levels and the sun's position changed, meaning the display was never quite the same twice.

Clare and her husband Rob Scarlett worked closely with Potters Electrical to design and build bespoke fixings capable of allowing the flags to move and rotate freely without becoming tangled or falling.

The cost of the new fixings was part-funded by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership and the flags will remain in place above High Street over the summer. Clare studied textile design at Birmingham City University and has worked with house furnishings companies Habitat and Made.com.

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She said: "When Shrewsbury BID approached me, I immediately thought the 'Impressions' theme gave us real creative freedom to think about how materials behave in the open air - how light moves through fabric, how different textures respond to the same breeze in different ways.

"After the fixings were designed and approved, it was simply a matter of the many hours of fabricating and sewing needed to produce the full collection. I really hope people take a moment to look up and notice how the display changes as the day goes on."

Now in its sixth year, Shrewsbury Arts Trail runs from July 4 to August 31 and brings free art exhibitions and events to the town.

Cllr Alex Wagner, economic growth chief at Shropshire Council, said: "Creating a vibrant and welcoming town centre is hugely important for supporting local businesses, encouraging footfall and strengthening Shrewsbury's visitor economy.

"The annual display above the High Street has become a distinctive part of that atmosphere and it's great to see the Big Town Plan's vitality funding supporting bigger and more ambitious displays which can keep evolving year on year."

Emma Molyneux, who led the project at Shrewsbury BID, added: "The High Street dressing is one of those things that people always notice when they visit Shrewsbury over the summer months.

"The display adds something to the atmosphere of the High Street that's hard to put a name to but easy to feel. This year we wanted to push the concept further and working with Clare has given us something genuinely special.

"The display changes with the weather and the time of day, which feels exactly right for a town centre that's always in motion."