City 'Papestry' ready for public display
BBCAn artist has completed an 18ft (5.6m) drawing that meticulously details buildings along one of Lincoln's oldest streets.
The ink drawing, inspired by the length of the Bayeux Tapestry, begins at the Assembly rooms on Bailgate and finishes at the 12th Century Norman House on Steep Hill, with a towering Lincoln Cathedral prominent in the centre.
Artist Matthew Wright, who drew the first pen lines in August 2025, said: "It's nine months, it's essentially birthing a child. Now I have to put this out in the public for everyone to see."
The Papestry will be on display at Lincoln's Usher Gallery between 20 June and 12 July.
While creating the artwork, Wright woke up at 05:00 and drew for a couple of hours before getting his son ready for school.
He drew some more during the daytime, and again in the evening.
Fridays were reserved for taking more photographs to draw the following week, and for having a few "well-earned pints".
"I'm really glad it's finished," Wright said.
"And I've loved the process: the drawing of it, the learning about the different buildings, about the architecture, about the history.
"I've loved meeting some of the people that are now in these buildings.
"It's just been a really great experience and there's something at the end of it all for, hopefully, people to enjoy."
The drawing's 18ft length represents 270 yards (247m) in reality and took about 800 hours to create.
Wright's drawing days have been replaced with a process of digitally scanning and rebuilding the artwork into his computer, so items can be created for the exhibition.
He said the work would be framed and carried by hand to the Usher Gallery, ready for an unveiling on 19 June.
He said he planned to draw the opposite side of the road next, with the Castle as the central element.
However, he said he would be taking a holiday first, before picking up his pens again in September.
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