In Pictures: Sir Peter Blake Visits and Signs Dazzle Ferry

Posted on 4 March 2015 by Liverpool Biennial

Since we showed our first photos of Snowdrop last month, Liverpool has been awash with news about Everybody Razzle Dazzle (2015) and the ferry’s makeover. Liverpool Biennial, 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and Tate Liverpool’s major new commission, in partnership with Merseytravel and National Museums Liverpool, is the third Dazzle Ship in the series – and the first working ship. 

Sir Peter Blake’s spectacular designs have been brightening up Cammell Laird’s dry dock in Birkenhead over the past few weeks. Eager to meet the painters and to get his first look at Snowdrop since she came off the water, Sir Peter came to Liverpool last Wednesday, 25 February 2015. The team has been working on the ferry for weeks and Sir Peter got to see Snowdrop looking tantalisingly close to the ‘Dazzle Ferry’ he imagined. The vivid colours and strong shapes that make up Sir Peter’s work have been etched on the hull and the superstructure of the ship, giving Snowdrop a whole new look.

Now that Sir Peter’s signature has taken pride of place on Snowdrop’s side, there are just a few steps left including putting brightly coloured vinyls on the windows and installing the on board display before the 'dazzled' ferry launches on 2 April 2015. 

Will you be there when Snowdrop launches in April? Tell us in the comments section below and join the online conversation using #DazzleFerry

Highly visible: Sir Peter Blake with Liverpool Biennial's curatorial team and staff from Cammell Laird and Merseytravel

Snowdrop's final days in dry dock, before moving to wet dock for the final stage of the makeover

Sir Peter talks about some of the finer details of his design

Dazzle paint: old and new collide at the bow of the ferry

Liverpool Biennial curator Rosie discusses the choice of colour palette with Sir Peter

Everybody Razzle Dazzle: Sir Peter signs his name on to the nearly finished artwork

Everybody Razzle Dazzle is commissioned by Liverpool Biennial, 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and Tate Liverpool in partnership with Merseytravel and National Museums Liverpool. Funded by Arts Council England’s Exceptional Awards programme, National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Department for Culture Media and Sport. Find out more.

Photography: Ant Clausen