Publication: Beautiful new book celebrates the amazing Comedy Carpet

Blackpool has a certain place in the British psyche that is probably quite mystifying to outsiders, The seaside town is associated with a very particular type of UK holiday experience; smutty but silly, sleazy but in a charming way. It has nostalgic connotations of the resort golden age but also a contemporary cache too, a hedonistic enclave in an increasingly homogenised country.

It was the prefect spot for artist Gordon Young and design studio Why Not Associates to create a celebration of the UK’s comedy heritage, but they surpassed all expect ions with the staggering achievement of The Comedy Carpet. Across 2,200 square metres and using 160,000 individually-cut letters, this amazing piece of quintessentially British outdoor art celebrates the work of more than 1,000 comedians, from music hall characters of yesteryear right up to today’s stadium-filling superstars.

Now this gorgeous new book brings to life this brilliant piece, packed with beautiful imagery, initial sketches, behind-the-scenes photos and procedural insights to give you a sense of the massive undertaking. If you’re a fan of comedy, art or graphic design this is a tremendous addition to your bookshelf.