THE streets of Penzance town centre and the promenade have received their annual splash of colour with the arrival of town flags and banners designed and produced by local artists Liz Tyrrell and Sarah Bell.  

Penzance Council commission and fund the flags every year that fly from buildings in Market Jew Street, Chapel Street, the Greenmarket, Causewayhead, and Alverton Street and the banners along the promenade. 

Liz Tyrrell started creating the current style of flags back in 1999 and has made hundreds for the town. She has been running the town flag project since 2017. The display of flags incorporates new designs and older flags from the past four years to ensure that these beautiful decorations are as sustainable as possible. 

This year Liz has created four brand new designs that reflect life in the Parish of Penzance - Star Gazey Pie, Afternoon Tea, a rugby player, and a surfer.

“I designed several sets of new flags, and designs were chosen from two of the sets to create colourful variety across the range of flags displayed this year” said Liz. 

Surfer flag - Liz Tyrrell
Liz Tyrrell’s surfer flag (Picture: Penzance Council)

In addition to the town flags, Penzance Council have introduced a new approach to the Promenade banners for the summer season. The silk banners of previous years, produced by Lucy Birbeck, were always one of the most popular and well-received of the council's projects.  

The council's arts and culture committee chose designs for this year created by artist Sarah Bell who has produced beautiful artwork celebrating the sea life in and around Mounts Bay.  

The designs were then sent to Mark and Vaughan at Sailflags, based in Goldsithney, who have printed the designs on their eco banner material which uses a recycled polyester material and water-based inks. 

“I want people to feel like the promenade is their very own open-air art gallery full of uplifting, moving paintings, featuring the precious marine life in our Mounts Bay” said Sarah. 

Sarah Bell with Lucy Birbeck admiring this year's prom banners
Sarah Bell with Lucy Birbeck admiring this year's prom banners (Picture: Penzance Council)

Both the town flags and promenade banners are supported by a season-long rigging contract so that damaged flags can be retrieved and repaired and, when weather conditions dictate, the promenade banners need to be brought in to protect them. This contract has been awarded to High Maintenance SouthWest for the 2024 season. 

Mayor of Penzance, Cllr Stephen Reynolds, said: “It’s always a sign that summer has returned when the flags and banners reappear to brighten our streets and prom. Liz and Sarah have certainly risen to the challenge this year, producing designs inspired by things that really matter to local people: surfing, rugby, our amazing sea life, and of course food! And thanks to the team at Sailflags, this year’s Prom banners will not only look great, they will be good for the planet too!”