Created by Merseyside artist Leo Fitzmaurice, Heaven, a large, mobile, metal motorway sign, is currently in the middle of a 52-day whistle-stop tour of 52 public sites as part of a public art initiative aiming to bring art to the streets of St Helens.

The sites, which have so far included St Helens Train Station and the former Sutton Manor Colliery site, have all been nominated by local people, with the sign spending a day at each giving visitors and passers-by the chance to engage with it.

Artist Leo Fitzmaurice said: "At each site the sign will arrive at 10am and stop for the day, allowing a chance for a photo opportunity and interaction with the community.

"The hope is in someway to focus attention on what is already there and also to pose the question what could be possible in the future."
Heaven, is part of the wider Big Art Project which involves seven sites across the UK which communities felt would benefit from new public art, set up by Channel Four and supported by St Helens Council and the Arts Council England.

Big Art St Helens is being curated by Liverpool Biennial and enjoys the active involvement of a group of passionate former miners, and funded by the Forestry Commission and Northwest Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme.

Councillor Brian Spencer, Leader of St Helens Council said: "The community engagement programme is a vital element of the overall commission to create a landmark Channel 4 Big Art Project at Sutton Manor, which is intended to enhance the Borough's image and profile as part of the wider 'Brand New St.Helens' place shaping initiative.

"The Council is very committed to public consultation and involvement in all we do, and the aim of the Heaven project is to put the 'public' back into public art, directly involving local people in creating art and culture for themselves in an exciting, innovative and fun manner."

Further new art will be put on display in the Sutton Manor site, which is the focus point for The Big Art Project in St Helens.

The site was chosen because of it's history as a former colliery and thanks to it's highly visible location near to the M62 and it is hoped that the new artwork will become a new regional icon for the North West at the gateway to Merseyside.

Heaven will be on tour until Saturday, May 3, and details of where it will be displayed each day can be found at www.bigartsthelens.com.