Mosaicist Donna Reeves has created a striking sculpture for Stevenage Bus Interchange, commissioned by Stevenage Borough Council and Junction 7 Creatives. Inspired by traditional cairns — rock markers used to guide travellers — the piece reflects the countless journeys that intersect in Stevenage, with every hand-cut tessera representing a unique path. The base stone honours the town’s heritage, featuring Stevenage’s coat of arms and a Viking boat, while the middle stone is banded in eight colours symbolising the town’s different neighbourhoods. The top stone captures personal memories, incorporating keepsakes contributed by the local community. Taking 18 months to complete, the project involved local participation and also holds personal significance for Donna, whose grandfather moved his family to Stevenage from London to work at British Aerospace.

Here’s a quick look at some of the symbolism to give you a little more insight:

• The base rock: is all about the History of Stevenage, including the Coat of Arms & Viking Boat

• Acorn & Leaf: represents the Oak Tree from the Coat of Arms and is repeated on all 3 stones for continuity

• 2 foxes: represents two fox twins and a connection to nature

• Barclay School: seen through the use of a clay tile of a tree

• Clay tiles featuring nature imprints made from real leaves found in Stevenage

• Flowers: represent nature, with pale blue & purple honouring the Suffragette movement in Stevenage

• Joy ride in a clay tile

• The clock tower: captured in a clay tile & surrounded by a Piet Mondrian-style tile, brought to life by primary school students in a creative workshop

• HM Vincent bike highlighted in a clay tile

• Stevenage Map: bicycles surrounding it to highlight the bike routes

• Viking boat: includes waves to represent the lakes & water

• Yellow bus: homage to the 50s

• Mallard Train

The background in grey mosaics represents the roundabouts and cycle paths. Inspiration  from a local man who takes aerial photos & from the photos given by the Museum.

In the Middle rock, the focus is on the Community.

The words: " The heart of a town lies in its people" taken from the coat of arms

Braille Lego: which reads "Welcome to Stevenage".

The idea is this work is to be touched but not to be climbed on. Mosaics are so tactile.

Stevenage Football club in a clay tile surrounded by the red and white colours

Hole in the middle to honour Henry Moore who features a hole in his work/ also represents a tunnel for transport and journeys.

8 rainbow colours to show the 8 neighbourhoods/ Pride

Caribbean flower taken from a keepsake given to me in fabric which couldn't go on the sculpture so made in a mosaic

In the Top rock: Community stories & keepsakes

Back = lots of Stevenage Community stories of what bought the to Stevenage and their fond memories have been captured in words and created in clay. There is an indent taking the shape of a natural pebble found at the top, which holds many keepsakes donated to the artist from the community.

Back: 

Acorn and leaf & Roundabout background repeated. Nature continued throughout 3 rocks 

Nala the cat 

Silkingrad