Tube Map Tapestry

Brighton artist, Lucy Sparrow, took 220 hours, 2,400 metres of thread, 142 buttons and three metres square of white felt to turn the London Underground map into a modern day Bayeux Tapestry. Called the The Bakerloo Tapestry, she decided to embark on this labour of love after the July 7, 2005 bombings and the subsequent rebuilding of the network in the following months and years.


Lucy said: "This is my biggest achievement to date. It is a modern take on such a recognised symbol for those living both in London and commuting from Brighton."

Unfortunately you won't be able to see the art on the Tube itself though. As TfL bosses say she'd have to pay to get it exhibited on the network. Ms Sparrow said: "This is something that as an artist I stand strongly against – much art is a labour of love and its a bit of a kick in the teeth to an aspiring artist to put heart and soul into a novel creation only to be asked to pay for other people to enjoy it."

Hopefully she might have better luck with other networks as she to make tapestries of other subway systems at home and abroad and eventually to make a full-sized car out of felt.

Perhaps we can convince her to make a full sized Tube carriage out of felt too. That, I'd love to see. More of Lucy's felt works can be seen on www.sewyoursoul.com