London is a city with a busy and vibrant cultural scene and a long and rich history. Whether you’re a local who wants to celebrate your famous home city, or you just want to be reminded of its iconic sights wherever you are in the world, here are some inspirational ideas for images of London that are worth framing.
The icons
They may be familiar landmarks, but icons such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and St Paul’s Cathedral are timeless images that make for stunning framed art pieces. Furthermore, because they are so prominent and well known, there’s a wealth of styles to choose from, so there’s bound to be one that suits your taste.
Photographs, etchings, oil paintings, watercolours, vintage travel posters, or even abstract interpretations: a browse of London’s art galleries or art websites is sure to turn up the perfect image.
London murals
If you want a quirky and contemporary take on London, go for a photograph of vibrant street art. From the headline grabbing works of Banksy to hidden gems, the city is brimming with murals, community artworks, and images that celebrate local heroes. It’s an ever-changing scene, with new images popping up every few weeks, and others vanishing overnight.
Get out with a camera and explore the streets to take your own photographs, or alternatively check out local photographer’s studios or websites, or street art organisations. You could even focus on the work of a particular artist, such as Lionel Stanhope.
He is responsible for the giant lettering in bold green and yellow colours that appears near to south London railway stations, and the famous NHS superman mural. He trained as a signwriter before moving into theatre and set design, and his signature style combines typography with figurative images.
Other great pieces of street art include the Hackney Peace Carnival in Dalston, Darwin’s Tree in Bromley, the Votes for Women mural on the side of the Lord Morpeth pub in Bow, and the Spirit of Soho mural that has featured on the corner of Carnaby Street and Broadwick Street since 1991.
It’s a highly original image of St Anne wearing a long dress, with her skirts held out to display a patchwork illustrated map of Soho. At the lower end of the mural is a collection of famous people who are associated with the area, including Marx, Blake, Mozart and Newton.
London Underground posters
The London Underground maps are frame-worthy images in themselves, but the Transport Museum posters, which were largely created throughout the 1920s and 1930s, are of exceptional quality.
They feature the work of some of the best graphic designers of the day, and were commissioned to advertise London attractions such as the Imperial War Museum and Kew Gardens. The works still look fresh and modern today, and are ideal prints to frame for your home or office.
Views of the Thames
The River Thames has attracted artists and photographers throughout the centuries, from Canelletto to Turner and Monet. It’s particularly atmospheric at dusk and nighttime, as the glow of lights from Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament or the London Eye are reflected in the water.
There’s even a current exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery in London featuring Claude Monet’s views of the Thames paintings, which were created during three stays in the capital between 1899 and 1901. The French impressionist’s views of the Thames are described as highly evocative, and full of mysterious light and colour.
In fact, much of the atmospheric light was created by the smog that often plagued the capital during the peak of the industrial revolution. The paintings reflect Monet’s extraordinary ability to see the beauty in the everyday environment.
So, there you have it: there are so many ways to celebrate the diverse imagery and culture of the ever-changing landscape of London. Of course, you could create your own works or even consider commissioning a bespoke piece from an artist or photographer who has caught your eye.