2006 ipswich school panel

The design shows a timeline of the town's history, using representations of long-lost and extant building. At a distance a single word stands out, created by the outlines of adjacent images, giving the image a playful edge.

Vitreous enamel was the obvious choice of material: it has an impervious but seductive glassy surface whose ageless richness of colour of colour will carry a complex design perfectly

Finding high-quality enamel was not easy. Mark had to trawl worldwide, before finally setting on Omeras, a maker located in former East Germany, who have a track-record of liaising with big public art projects.