by Sam Hawcroft
New coastal safety signs at Withernsea’s Pier Towers are encouraging people to “Stop, think and act”, with those behind the project inviting feedback as they plan further work.
The two designs by Darrin Stevens highlight the unpredictability of the sea and recognise the emergency services who respond when people get into difficulty.
Installed at the site of January’s sea tragedy, which claimed three lives, the artwork forms part of a community initiative championed by mayor Cllr Kristina Richardson.
One image features a large, stylised breaking wave reminiscent of the famous Japanese artwork The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The second brings an RNLI lifeboat into the foreground.
Darrin said: “I wanted these two designs to be strong, memorable and thought-provoking, while remaining sensitive to the circumstances that led to this important safety message.
“The sea can be beautiful and inviting, but it can also become dangerous very quickly and in all weather conditions. I wanted the images to be striking enough to make somebody stop, think about the conditions and the possible consequences, and then make the right decision.”
He said initial comments from both residents and visitors had been positive, with people responding to the appearance of the designs and the clarity of the message.
Darrin said: “These designs are not intended to frighten people. They are about respecting the sea, remembering how quickly circumstances can change and encouraging everyone to put safety first.”
He added that greater awareness could also help protect Coastguard and RNLI crews, who sometimes put themselves at risk to help others.
Cllr Richardson said she wanted the signs to catch people’s attention while remaining respectful of the location and everyone affected by January’s tragedy.
With the dramatic wave imagery intended to prompt people to pause, she is keen to hear how it resonates with those who live in Withernsea as well as those visiting.
She said: “I think the big thing that I’ve said from day one is not only am I human, I’m here to listen and learn.
“While we have visitors coming here and coastal safety is for everybody, this is a population that’s here all year round, and I want to make sure – is this right?”
Visitors at the Pier Towers on Tuesday asked for their initial reactions were supportive of the safety message.
One visitor, Ryan, from Hull, said the artwork would make him more aware of where he was standing and the conditions around him.
He said: “You’ve got to be cautious, regardless. It would make me stop and think, yes.”
Another couple, visiting from Nottinghamshire, felt the design worked as a warning sign.
Cllr Richardson acknowledged that residents, particularly those closely affected by the tragedy, might view the imagery differently. She stressed that the designs could be changed and that feedback would help shape the next stage.
She said: “I haven’t done the designs personally, but at the end of the day, it’s a project that I’m involved with and I’m championing.
“So if it’s not right, I want to find that balance where not only does it still grab the attention, so the message can get across, but actually make sure that it remains respectful to us as a community and everyone that was affected.”
The project is a community initiative linked to her mayoral objectives and is not funded by Withernsea Town Council.
Cllr Richardson said: “This is a pilot for more. And I want to make sure that before we move on to the next phase, we get it right.”
A separate addition nearby recognises Withernsea’s emergency services. A photograph of the town’s firefighters, also by Darrin, has been installed at Castle Cafe, completing a set alongside the RNLI and Coastguard photographs around the corner, behind the Pier Road bus stop.
Darrin said: “If these images make someone pause for a moment, think twice and make a safer choice, then I hope they will have achieved their purpose: helping to prevent another life being lost at sea.”
