For RAF 100 celebrating 100 years of the Royal Air Force and in collaboration with Kendal BID, I was asked through my connections with Air Cadets to design a campaign during the summer of 2018 to coincide with the yearly Kendal in Bloom festival. Kendal BID wanted six banners to line the streets with their planters underneath. But first they wanted a design to link the yearly festival to the once in a lifetime RAF 100. I came up with this and put it in the corner of every banner. 

I was told they wanted a basic style. Something bold which would stand out to pedestrians underneath as well as the passing one way traffic and buses. I was working in collaboration with our Squadron commander at the time. He sent me basic sketches of what they were after and it was my job to make them reality.

This was my first design. Four Lancaster Bombers flying over search lit skies. The RAF roundel on each image is a representative of the type of roundel in use at that time and for that particular aircraft. For example, the yellow ring around the recognisable blue, white and red was reserved for Bomber Command

I wanted to represent as many stages of the Royal Air Forces 100 year history as possible. As the youngest of the UK's military sectors, I wanted to show how far it had come and how much it had advanced in that time. For this I used the Chinook's with their people and cargo carrying prowess in the deserts of our most recent wars. 

The birth of the RAF in World War 1 was a rocky start. Aircraft was unreliable and fragile compared to what we have today, but all technological advances start somewhere. It was only a few years prior that the thought of man being able to soar amongst the clouds was unthinkable. A fantasy. To see it being put to military use so soon was amazing on behalf of technicians, designers and the bravery of the pilots.

From the very start to the most recent. I challenged myself with this one as the perspective was quite difficult. I wanted the showcase the then brand new F-35 Lightning II  as our replacement for the harrier. Showing the progress the RAF have made to keep current and the space age technology we now use in the Armed Forces

What could be more iconic than Spitfires in the Battle of Britain over the white cliffs of Dover? I wanted to ensure there was a sense of familiarity as there would be people of all walks seeing these banners. Many people have actually said this is their favourite so it's nice to see I was able to give 'warm fuzzies' as well as representing aircraft people may not recognise.

My final banner and one of my favourites is the world renowned Red Arrows aerobatics team. I like the contrast of colours in all my banners and hope they succeeded in educating as well as brightening up our 'auld, grey town'