AN AWARD-winning Basingstoke illustrator will exhibit her work this summer in a display celebrating the town’s history.

Lydia Fee’s exhibition 'Enliven: Reviving the past to put life back in to Basingstoke', takes inspiration from black and white images which depict the vibrancy of the old market town. It will feature black and white photography and colourful illustrations.

After taking a series of photographs of the same areas to compare Basingstoke ‘now and then’, Lydia discovered the life and spirit of the historical images had been lost in the present day colour photographs.

Enliven will show present day colour photographs of the town converted to greyscale, with colour painted back into the locations illustrating positive moments from times gone by.

The exhibition, which opens on Saturday, August 6 and runs until Saturday, September 10 at The Willis Museum, will include illustrations of an elephant parade from Basingstoke train station, dancing in the streets during Mardi Gras and the West Ham outdoor swimming pool.

Lydia, who works as a designer with clients including Harper Collins, Zed Books and the NHS, said: “Basingstoke is my hometown and I enjoyed growing up here in the 80s and 90s – but there are many great things about the town that have been lost, and not just since I was a child. When I started looking at photos from 50 and 60 years ago, I was surprised at how beautiful, interesting and lively the town once was.

“The exhibition is thought provoking because it juxtaposes the old and the new in one image to give a stark contrast and illustrate how much things have changed. I wanted to demonstrate just how wonderful our town used to be, in the hope that we can start to revive the past and enliven Basingstoke today. The exhibition symbolises a positive future and optimism for the town.”

Lydia sourced black and white photographs of Basingstoke from the Friends of the Willis Museum, Basingstoke Heritage Society and from public submissions.

She is still looking for more images, of the town and if you can help email Basingstoke.photos@outlook.com.