Above picture shows a close up detail of the mild steel alto relief panel, the steam train, this took five days for John McKenna to make. See below navigation bar for more detail

Brownhills Town Entrance feature

The town commissioned John to create a sign feature to deliniate the entrance to Brownhills in Staffordshire.

John McKenna used historical references to design the panel which was then fabricated in mild steel by Art for Architecture , galvanized and painted on site.

The artwork took 12weeks to create and measures approx 4m wide by 3m high and 50cm deep.

Above the Brownhills panel in its 'raw' mild steel state before it was galvanized. Work like this has to be galvanized as rust would eat away at it over time. The panel depicts the industries of Brownhills, its asscociation with rail and canal transport, mining, brick making and general industry. The whole scene is bordered by trees - Walsall Wood which once surrounded the Town, above it the low hills of Cannock Chase, surmounted by the Staffordshire Knot.

A close up detail of the canal boat which took 6 days to complete. For example the bay of coal on the far left of the boat took almost a day to cut, form and weld together the small pieces to give the 'coal' effect.

Below final galvanized and painted artwork on site on Brownhills High Street.