08 Jul Stanfords Map of Covent Garden Wall Mural

A unique installation of an astonishing giant map of London’s Covent Garden has been produced and installed by Imaginators upon the exterior of the famous Stanfords flagship store, London. Commissioned by Stanfords, the New Map of Covent Garden was illustrated by cartographer and artist Adam Dent.

Using a specialist method of print production, Imaginators initially scoped and surveyed the entire building to provide a blank canvas for Adam to design into. From artworks provided digitally, Imaginators used a tried and tested method of printing to a vinyl which was applied to the exterior surfaces of the building which included brick, concrete, shotcrete render and mortar to give the illusion of a hand painted mural.

Edward Stanford rose to prominence during the height of the Victorian age a period defined by technological innovation, social upheaval, literary excellence, and world exploration. Stanford attended the City of London School.

Stanford, together with Chief Cartographer John Bolton, set about work on a series of continental library maps, the first being his Library Map of Europe in 1858. Bolton would work for the company for 67 years, working on a wide variety of maps, including the 1862 Library Map of London which was recognised on its publication as “the most perfect map of London that has ever been issued.” by the Royal Geographical Society.

By 1873 the company had started to outgrow even its expanded premises and moved to 55 Charing Cross. At the same time, the print works moved to 12-14 Long Acre, the original site of the Stanfords flagship shop before a move to Mercer Walk in Covent Garden during 2019.

Today, Stanfords remains a much loved and vital part of the travel landscape. As the world’s largest map retailer, Stanfords prides itself on the depth of its stock, sourced by experts, from all over the world.

Adam was born in Cambridge in 1967, and from the young age of 6, he became fascinated in maps and their ability to tell stories. Dant studied Graphic Design at Liverpool University before completing an MA in Printmaking from The Royal College of Art. Nowadays, Adam is based in east London, which acts as a constant inspiration to Adam’s art. In 2002, Adam won the Jerwood Drawing Prize and in 2015 he was named Election Artist by the UK House of Commons. Adam’s illustrative style is recognised internationally. Works are thoroughly researched, with the artist drawing on a deep well of historical and visual sources to create his wittily perceptive detailed drawings.