- Jenni Sparks's map includes colour-coded train lines based on actual geographic Tube map
- She said: 'I wanted to find out exactly what made all the different places in London unique'
- Landmarks include giant pharaoh (British Museum); 'Van Gogh was here' (in Stockwell); and mustachioed Hoxton
By Larisa Brown and Nick Enoch
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It's not often you'll find a map of London with 'Van Gogh was here' written over a street in Stockwell.
But this quirky hand-drawn effort is not your standard guide to the city.
Illustrator Jenni Sparks spent two and half months sketching her creation, which includes colour-coded train lines - based on the actual geographic Tube map - snaking across cultural landmarks.
Among the other points of interest are markets, pubs, parks, along with tidbits of local history - hence the reference to the 19h-century Dutch painter, who lodged in south-west London for six months.
Then there's the giant bagel - to illustrate a famous 24-hour Jewish bakery in Brick Lane; and Del Boy's beloved Peckham, shown by his three-wheeler and catchphrase 'Lovely Jubbly'.
Illustrator Jenni Sparks spent two and half months sketching her creation, which includes colour-coded train lines - based on the actual geographic Tube map - snaking across cultural landmarks
The map is filled with larger-than-life objects to highlight points of interest. On Brick Lane in Bethnal Green, there is a big bagel to illustrate Beigel Bake, a famous 24-hour bakery (pictured to the right)
The map, pictured, is full of fun facts such as celebrity birthplaces, local markets, social stereotypes and favourite pubs
Miss Sparks has also included fun facts such as celebrity birthplaces and social stereotypes.
The 24-year-old artist, who used to work as a gallery assistant at Somerset house, said she wanted to create a cult map, including local knowledge that you would not be able to get from your average tourist map.
So she set off out on a research journey, collaborating with Evermade art prints, to find out about the culture in different parts of the city.
She said: 'I wanted to find out exactly what made all the different places in London unique.
'I asked a lot of Londoners what the area was known for, whether it was a cool, arty place, and found out what type of people lived in certain places.
The finished print is created by sketching onto a computer, using digital drawing tools and Photoshop. Above, Peckham - the setting of Only Fools And Horses - is shown by Del Boy's car, and his catchphrase
The idea behind the map is that it includes local knowledge that you would not be able to get from your average tourist map. At Stockwell (top, centre) is a reference to Van Gogh, who lodged in south-west London for six months
The artist visited the areas and spent weeks researching the culture and vibe of the places before sketching them
'Shoreditch for example is quite a cool, arty place and there is a lot of people riding bicycles and generally wearing moustaches.
'West London has quite a lot of affluent people and in Clapham there are a lot of Australian people and nice families.
'In each place, I have done little lighthearted symbols to link with the general vibe of the place.'
Shoreditch in east London, full of trendy, fashionista types, has retro thick-rimmed black glasses and a bicycle drawn to mark its identity.
'On Brick Lane, there is a picture of a bagel, after Beigel Bake, a famous 24-hour bakery selling bagels baked in the traditional Jewish style.
In Lambeth, there is a speech bubble saying 'Doing the Lambeth walk - Oi', taken from the song The Lambeth Walk in the 1937 musical Me And My Girl.
Jenni Sparks, a 24-year-old artist, pictured holding up her map of London. She has quit her job to become a full-time illustrator
The London map is available in two standard sizes for easy framing, the small one costs 75 and the second 130
Miss Sparks said: 'I wanted to find out exactly what made all the different places in London unique. I asked a lot of Londoners what the area was known for, whether it was a cool, arty place, and found out what type of people lived in certain places'
Among the landmarks above are the newly opened Shard. Miss Sparks used to work as a gallery assistant at Somerset house
Miss Sparks drew sketches while she was out and about on the streets on different pieces of paper - then stuck them all on her wall.
She worked over ten hours a day on the project, adding: 'It was my life, my life at the time.
'I was really happy to have finished it, it was a challenge for me.'
The finished print is created by sketching onto a computer, using digital drawing tools and Photoshop.
Miss Sparks has also completed a map of York.
The London map is available in two standard sizes for easy framing - the small one costs 75 and the second 130 from Evermade.
In Lambeth there is a speech bubble saying 'Doing the Lambeth walk - Oi', taken from the song The Lambeth Walk from the 1937 musical Me And My Girl
According to the artist: 'Shoreditch is quite a cool, arty place and there are a lot of people riding bicycles and generally wearing moustaches'
Harrods is pictured with a pound symbol next to it and the Royal Albert Hall is also drawn in detail in Knightsbridge
Looks like the work of a 10-year old...
- RW , LONDON, United Kingdom, 24/12/2012 18:28
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