Liverpool Biennial and Sir Peter Blake Celebrate Dazzle Ferry Extension with Special Liverpool Event

Sir Peter Blake, Everybody Razzle Dazzle, 2015. Photo: Mark McNulty

Sir Peter Blake, Everybody Razzle Dazzle, 2015. Photo: Mark McNulty

Liverpool Biennial is delighted to announce that Everybody Razzle Dazzle, Sir Peter Blake’s artwork for the Mersey Ferry Snowdrop, is to be kept until its next major scheduled service at the beginning of 2019. The artwork extension will be marked with a special ‘in conversation’ event with the artist, Sir Peter Blake, at Museum of Liverpool on Sunday 23 April. 

Everybody Razzle Dazzle was commissioned in 2015 by Liverpool Biennial, 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and Tate Liverpool. The Snowdrop was due to be returned to her original paintwork at the end of 2016 following the two-year long project. The extension will see the Dazzle Ferry through Liverpool’s 10-year anniversary of ‘European Capital of Culture’ and the continuing First World War commemorations. Everybody Razzle Dazzle was designed to mark the war centenary, inspired by designs on merchant navy vessels intended to confuse the enemy.

To celebrate the ferry’s artwork extension, Sir Peter Blake will be in conversation with art historian and writer Richard Cork at the Museum of Liverpool about the artist’s commission and wider practice. Blake is one of the major figures of British pop art and has a strong relationship to Liverpool. Entry to the event is free but capacity is limited, so pre-booking is essential.



This year also marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album release, the cover for which was designed by Sir Peter Blake, and as such the Dazzle Ferry will form part of Liverpool’s 50 Summers of Love programme. The Dazzle Ferry has proved extremely popular with both residents and tourists, attracting media interest nationally and across the world.

Gary Evans, Head of Customer Delivery and who has operational responsibility for the Mersey Ferries, said: “The Dazzle Ferry has become very much part of our spectacular waterfront and attracting interest from around the world. It is therefore fitting that we extend the life of the Snowdrop’s colourful livery for the full length of the First World War commemorations and to have it in support of future City Region events, such as 50 Summers of Love and the 10-year anniversary of European Capital of Culture.”

Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial, said: “Everybody Razzle Dazzle has been seen and experienced by more than 5 million people to date and has become an iconic public artwork for the city. We are delighted that it will remain for another two years, meaning many more visitors will be able to enjoy the commission, and are really grateful to Sir Peter Blake for his generous support for the extension.”

Book your free tickets for the 'in conversation' event on Sunday 23 April here and find out more about Everybody Razzle Dazzle here