North Devon College students unveil creative surfboard installation at Mariner’s Haven, Ilfracombe
20 May 2026Art students from North Devon College have unveiled a striking surfboard art installation created for our Mariner’s Haven development in Ilfracombe.
The project forms part of the college’s 2000 Futures Count campaign which partnered students with local employers to create real-world opportunities and strengthen connections between education and industry.
As part of the project, we worked with a cohort of art students to design and produce a bespoke surfboard celebrating the coastal location of Mariner’s Haven, which will bring 347 new homes to Ilfracombe.
11 students produced a design for the surfboard, provided by Tiki Surf, and Devonshire Homes chose the winning design by Mair Trethewey. Over recent months, the students have been working together to create the unique piece using a range of techniques, with Devonshire Homes contributing towards materials. The board, which features a remarkable jellyfish and sailboat on one side, and a mischievous seagull on the other, has been handed over and will be installed at Mariner’s Haven.
Kerala Cotter, Placement Co-Ordinator at North Devon College, commented: “We selected a group of students from different levels and courses, including those who would not usually choose paint as their medium and others who had never worked at that scale before. I was very impressed with how collaboratively they worked and how they generated multiple strong ideas, which they were able to see through to completion. I can confidently say that this experience was incredibly valuable for their future development.”
The students enjoyed engaging with the project and the opportunity to work on a large-scale piece of public artwork.
Jacob Coats, 19, commented: “I feel the whole process of this surfboard has gone quite smoothly and the final result looks amazing!”
Mair Trethewey, 16, commented: “I don’t usually paint so large and it was kind of tricky, but it’ll help me with future projects.”
Milly Middleton, 17, commented: “It was fun working with my friends and learning new techniques.”
Jane Pearce, Sales and Marketing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “We were delighted to support North Devon College’s 2000 Futures Count campaign by partnering with local art students to create this magnificent surfboard. Many of our homeowners at Mariner’s Haven will enjoy sea views of the North Devon coastline from their new homes, and the surfboard is an excellent nod to this. We’d like to say a big thank you to the students for creating the surfboard.”
The 2000 Futures Count campaign has now exceeded its ambitious target, delivering 2,142 employer and industry engagement opportunities, surpassing the original goal of 2,000. The campaign has given young people the opportunity to create meaningful, real-world connections across a range of industries and employer networks.
Mariner’s Haven is a new residential development located off Old Barnstaple Road, Ilfracombe with views across the Bristol Channel and open countryside. The development offers a mix of two, three and four bedroom open market and affordable homes.