Throughout December, The Shard has illuminated London’s skyline with its festive spire lights display specially created this year in partnership with the London School of Mosaic (LSoM).

This week, light artist and photographer Kevin Jay took inspiration from one of the sequences in The Shard display to create his own ‘real-time’ snowman using a special light painting technique on the banks of the River Thames at low tide.

The light painting was captured using long exposure photography and an innovative ‘pixel stick’ tool, replicating the mosaic tiles of the snowman in the light display at the top of Western Europe’s tallest building.
The artist’s design was sketched out and programmed into an LED pixel stick so that it could be brought to life in ‘real-time’ in front of the lens. The resulting photographs represent a one-of-a-kind painting; an engaging and creative re-interpretation of The Shard’s festive lights theme.
This year’s festive lights display features:

“The Shard Snowman”
– A larger-than-life snowman – an iconic festive symbol – appearing with a striking red scarf and hat to add a pop of colour before melting away.

“Festive Candle”
– A softly illuminated candle, set against a bright blue backdrop, radiating festive charm.

“Festive Pattern”
– a bold green and gold pattern inspired by a Christmas Brooch created by Pop Art pioneering Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi, who was behind the eye-catching mosaics Londoners will be familiar with at Tottenham Court Road station.

Londoners and visitors to the capital will be able to catch sight of the festive mosaic designs from 1600 every night right up until they make way for a special illuminated countdown hosted by The Shard on New Year’s Eve.