Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Tony Mead. I’m the owner of Industrial Art Sign Co based in Spotswood. I’m a traditionally trained signwriter, which means I can create signs by hand with a brush and paint. Over the years I’ve expanded on the creation of lettering into painted murals, some 3D sculpture and digitally produced signage.
Tell us about your work in art/murals in the west.
I’ve been fortunate to be involved with The Art and Industry Festival and also working with Hobsons Bay Council on its Art in Public Places program and other site specific projects. These relationships have allowed me to produce a wide variety of creative work. Some projects I’ve rolled out over the past few years are the Welcome to Spotswood water tank mural, the Soot, Steam Salt and Sand mural in Newport, the Sea Flowers floating stars on the bay and Cherry Lake, the Brooklyn community footpath mural, the large Rainbow Road painting at Altona Civic Centre and just completed Yarraville Community Garden container mural designed by the residents at David House.
What is your favourite thing about being an artist?
I see myself as a creative problem solver, I like being given a basic idea or brief and visualising the finished project and then working backwards to design how to make what I see in my mind.
What is your favourite thing about working in the west?
I like working with the other creative people I’ve met over the years working on these projects. There is such a strong creative community in the west making some great work. Creating work in the area where you live is very special, personally I like to see my work still standing as the years go by and reminisce on the painting of them which is not always easy but very rewarding.
What’s your connection to Maribyrnong/Hobsons Bay?
My workshop in Spotswood has been my creative base for the past 20 years, and I’ve lived in Newport and currently Williamstown.
What do you like about where you live?
I love driving to work along the Strand in Williamstown in the mornings. I start early and have witnessed some outstanding sunrises with the city backdrop. The community is important to me and involvement in Spotswood Traders and Westgate Referral Network have been a great way to interact with other local business people.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I’d like to see more sympathetic building developments which include the past inner west industrial / manufacturing in their design or they keep elements of existing industrial heritage. Some employment of local artists and creatives in these developments would also be beneficial.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
Even though I’ve made many thousands of signs for businesses all over Melbourne, I’m yet to create one for my own workshop!
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I’ve always thought if you have developed skills through life it’s important to give back to the community that helped you attain them, so I generally put my hand up when it comes to doing creative projects that benefit my community.
