Artist Gina Marsh adds an artistic touch to a conference

Why not add some originality to your conference by having your own artist create a visual masterpiece? It could be an interpretation of your event as it progresses, or in this case part of a new brand reveal for Mars Petcare. We engaged artist Gina Marsh who is an experienced mural painter and also an erotic artist (but she concentrated on the former for this event!). We asked her some questions to find out what she thought…

What was your brief for the conference?

My brief was to paint a mural of the new logo for Mars Petcare brand. An inspiring idea to bring brand related fun and entertainment to the Mars conference in Barcelona.

Were there any unexpected challenges and how did you overcome them?

There are often unexpected challenges in art projects so it’s important for me to be flexible, think creatively and make changes to ensure the project works really well no matter what crops up. The mural was to be painted outside on a veranda while people from the conference enjoyed a reception. But the schedule overran and it started to get dark, making it difficult to see to paint! So we decided to continue the mural throughout the next day in the lobby of the conference room, where people could watch it develop while they took a break from the meeting.

What aspect did you enjoy most?

It was great to meet and engage with new people, both the team I was working with and the conference participants. I was really well looked after and the accommodation at the Arts Hotel was amazing!

Did you get any leisure time, and what did you get up to?

As I was required to paint mainly when people were taking a break, it left me plenty of time to explore the nearby area or relax by the hotel pool (feeling a tad overdressed in my paint splattered dungarees!).

What else you think an artist could be engaged to do at an event?

Perhaps a fun team building exercise to break up a day of business-centred training or a conference. Creating a piece of communal art, mural or canvass, where all the team get to contribute either with ideas or practically. Taking inspiration from the environment or the product. Creating a pictorial journey of the days ideas, brainstorms or development of a brand as the day unfolds. The finished piece can then either be put on display or used in marketing material.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Barcelona is a beautiful vibrant city and it was a real pleasure to visit again. I also felt very included socially by the production team. It was very well organised, with most of the equipment I needed already there for me and the brief very clear and easy to follow. A very enjoyable job!