On 1 March 2014, Bucks County Council launched a brand-new exhibition to celebrate the legendary Friars Club, based in Aylesbury.
Founded in 1969, the Friars Club earned global recognition as “the music club that rocked the world.” It played a crucial role in launching the early careers of artists such as David Bowie, Genesis, Mott the Hoople, Cockney Rebel, The Clash, and many others.
We were absolutely delighted to contribute to this iconic event. It was especially meaningful for our MD, Andy Borrow, who spent many nights at the Friars and saw more than 50 bands perform there.
The Brief
Our role was to design and produce photographic display panels featuring original images of artists taken at the Friars. These panels would be showcased throughout the exhibition.
What we did to help
We worked closely with Bucks County Museum and The Friars Club team from the outset. During an initial site visit, we met with our contacts to discuss project requirements and assess the available space. At this stage, we offered expert advice on how to present the visuals, as well as recommendations on materials that would ensure quality and durability.
However, we faced some challenges with the supplied images. Since we were working with original photographs, many were worn or too small to enlarge without compromising image quality. Therefore, we had to get creative.
In partnership with Lee Upton from Amberflare, we used advanced image-editing techniques to restore and upscale the photos. This included cloning to mask creases, interpolation to increase resolution (DPI), and colour manipulation through greyscale, mid-tones, and highlights. Additionally, we used Raster Image Processing software to ensure the scans could be printed at large sizes without losing clarity.
To produce the final prints, we chose Foamex—a lightweight yet rigid material known for its strength and clean finish. Altogether, we created more than 30 custom panels in varying sizes. Moreover, we supplied 25 smaller promotional signs free of charge to help raise awareness of the event.
We had the pleasure of attending the launch evening, where we were personally thanked for our support and craftsmanship. The exhibition turned out to be a tremendous success. More importantly, it was an honour to help bring such a powerful and nostalgic piece of local music history back to life.
A huge thank you for Impact Signs, who have done such a fabulous job with all of the signs. They look stunning. Thank you.
If this is something you would be interested in or would like to know more then please contact us on;
Tel: 01296 488 902 • Email: info@impactsignsolutions.co.uk
