Grand designs: Sisters give Polar Bear a colourful makeover
LANDMARK: The Polar Bear in Spring Bank
By Angus Young
One of Hull’s best-known live music venues is getting a colourful makeover.
Leeds-based artist EV Hardaker has returned to her home city to transform the look of the Polar Bear in Spring Bank.
She explained: “Danny Mawer from the Polar Bear got in touch with me before the pandemic to see if I could come up with some designs for the exterior. We actually went to the same school and he contacted me after seeing some of my work in Leeds and other places.
LABOUR OF LOVE: Sisters Abi, left, and EV
“He wanted something eye-catching and eventually I came up with a design we both liked. It’s taken much longer than we originally planned to actually get on site but hopefully it’s going to attract attention. I like colour and abstract shapes in my work and I’ve tried to incorporate that style into this.”
EV (short for Emma Victoria) has worked on the Polar Bear project with her younger sister Abi acting as an assistant. “We’ve done a few things together but Abi eventually wants to get into upholstery and furniture making,” she said. “I love architecture so working on a building like this is a bit special.”
EYE-CATCHING: The redecorated exterior
As well as designing the venue’s new-look fascia, EV has also re-painted the two main doors and is also due to paint a camper van currently parked in the rear beer garden which doubles as a DJ booth.
“I originally left Hull to study at Manchester University and I’ve lived in Leeds for the last 12 years but all my family still live here so it’s great to be back and doing a project like this,” she said.
See more of EV Hardaker’s work here
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