James Darby
Bombay Sapphire bottle against a vivid geometric tile mural

Bombay Sapphire — CANVAS

Art Director

CANVAS was Bombay Sapphire's first global festival activation, and I art-directed it for their launch at Electric Picnic 2019. The idea I wanted to land was simple: let people unleash their inner artist, so a drink becomes something you make rather than something you're handed.

I designed the whole thing as a journey. Starting from the blank canvas of a recyclable cup, guests moved through a series of sensory stations — a Paint Station where they applied edible paint to their cup, and an imaGINation station set against a bespoke installation by Dublin artist Anna Doran.

From there I sent them to a DIY tonic wall and a garnish garden of live plants and fresh botanicals, finishing at a spray-mist station and a photography plinth so every cup became a keepsake. Mixology met art — the whole space was built to Stir Creativity. #StirCreativity

Art Director
James Darby
Bespoke art installation
Anna Doran
The CANVAS installation at Electric Picnic — hexagonal blue signage and garnish garden
The Stir Creativity bar with copper detailing and neon
Guest pouring tonic from a bespoke copper tap wall
Geodesic display case holding two finished serves
A recyclable-cup serve resting on a mossy tree stump