King's Lynn featured in new range of Underground style transport maps
King's Lynn has literally been put well and truly on the map in a new range of Underground style transport posters.
Featured stations include the Vancouver Quarter, Tuesday Market Place, Gaywood, Purfleet, Greyfriars Tower, Red Mount Chapel, Saddlebow, Hardwick, North Wootton and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
They have been designed and are produced by mother and daughter Ann and Hannah Ewart, who are from Beverley in East Yorkshire. However Hannah has links with West Norfolk and Norwich, another location for which they have created a map.
Hannah told the Lynn News: "After graduating from the University of East Anglia, I worked as a junior environmental consultant which involved travelling to sites and projects across Norfolk, with a vast majority of work in West Norfolk.
"I also regularly visit West Norfolk as I have close friends who live in the area so consequently, I spend lots of time in and around both Lynn and Norwich. Norfolk is my home away from home."
Hannah and her mum set up their business Underdog Studio a year ago and they have now created 19 maps within Yorkshire, East Anglia, Lincolnshire, the North West and North East.
"We have yet to venture further south than Cambridge, so perhaps that is our next step. Several others are nearly ready to release," said Hannah.
"We launched the King’s Lynn and Norwich Map together in March this year and we have had really lovely reactions so far. I think with the River Great Ouse running vertically on the Lynn map, it makes it a really unique print. People are incredibly proud and loyal to Norfolk, which is great and explains why Norwich is by far our best selling map."
Having previously worked in and around Lynn, Hannah was relatively familiar with the town itself and the main areas. She said: "We spend a lot of time looking at Google Earth Imagery to pick out key residential areas and ensure the ‘important’ stops are included, for example the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"We try to make sure that the maps aren’t tourist maps, instead we aim to make them as accurate as possible with regards to connecting up the main areas whilst also keeping them aesthetically pleasing."
Having studied environmental science at UEA Hannah spent a lot of time analysing geological, flood and topographic maps rather than creating them.
"We are self-taught as designers and this involved lots of trial and error to begin with – however we now have a solid system to ensure we maintain high quality standards," she said.
Both Hannah and Ann work full time. "We decided to double our workload by taking this on, but it gives us a real energy and excitement, building this ourselves, we’re passionate and proud!Family time has a whole new meaning," said Hannah.
At present stock prints sized A3, A4 and A6 are available but they intend to develop a more varied product range as the business grows.
Orders can be placed on their website www.underdogstudio.co.uk or by visiting www.etsy.com/uk/shop/UnderdogStudio Prices are £13.95 (A3), £8.95 (A4) and £2.49 (A6).
In future they also hope to supply shops in both Lynn and Norwich.