AN artist commissioned to transform one of Ipswich's best known buildings during renovation work today told of his excitement as the project draws near.

Grant Sherlock

AN artist commissioned to transform one of Ipswich's best known buildings during renovation work today told of his excitement as the project draws near.

Les Bicknell is just days away from finalising his cornfields image which will shroud the Corn Exchange throughout a £1million refurbishment project.

Mr Bicknell, a visual artist from Sibton Green in north Suffolk, was chosen over a shortlist of artists for his striking but simple concept of a Suffolk landscape dominated by cornfields and sky.

Since being commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council for the £15,000 'Wrapping of the Corn Exchange' project, he has spent recent weeks photographing different cloud formations and landscapes to capture the perfect combination of cloud and sky.

“People who visit the town centre will be transported to a very rural space,” the 45-year-old father-of-two said.

“I've created four or five images for the council to choose from. In some there are bits where I've played with the structure of the clouds so that there are images within the clouds that are slightly abstract so people can have fun finding them.”

Mr Bicknell's concept appealed to the borough council because of its link with the history of the Corn Exchange building, which was originally used for the sale of corn.

“It's a celebration of that experience of travelling through rural areas and seeing those vast expanses of land,” he said.

“It's a reminder that we are surrounded by that.”

The giant 50metre by 10metre artwork will cover the exterior or the Corn Exchange while the refurbishment project on the façade and roof of the building is carried out.

The artwork will clad the scaffolding erected outside the building and will stay in place for up to six months.