About the work
Artist Jessica Smith has created a beautiful illustrated riverscape celebrating the River Somer which flows through Midsomer Norton High Street and gives the town its name. Jessica worked with the Cam Valley Wildlife Group to choose which bird to include on the bench. As the group put it: “the dipper is a neat bird with clean lines and a distinctive shape. It is found in the waterways around here because the water flows quickly. The dipper is typically an upland bird, so it is somewhat unusual to have it here.”
About the artist
Jessica Smith is an illustrator and artist currently based in Bath. She loves to create playful, bold and colourful art and has worked on a huge range of projects from packaging and advertising to children’s books. Her work is eye-catching, bright and playful.
You can see more of her work here.
About the location
The Somer bench is located in the courtyard of 1 High Street, currently occupied by Sewing-Sanctuary and the Sanctuary Cafe. This site has a fascinating history spanning over 200 years – you can hear more about it on the Myths & Memories of Midsomer Norton High Street audio trail.