The idea came about through a conversation when the Dial House opened last year between Jules Allen of Rushlight Gallery and Sarah Tribe of Lambert & Tribe about Reepham becoming a destination for art and antiques lovers.
 
“Originally we were planning a brochure to highlight the antiques shops and the new gallery,” said Ms Allen. “The idea escalated and it became apparent after speaking to retailers that all Reepham businesses would benefit from more advertising and exposure. “We decided that a ‘quirky’ hand-drawn town map that showed visitors what was available at a glance would be a great idea.”
 
Ms Tribe suggested using the artist that had designed the Byfords menus – Andrew Ruffhead, who with wife Sarah runs the Fish and Ships Coastal Art Gallery in Burnham Market – and who was keen to take on the job.
 
Ms Allen then took on the considerable task of approaching the businesses with the idea, including those that are slightly detached on the Collers Way Industrial Estate and Reepham Station area. She then took photographs of all the individual shops to send to the artist, followed by drawing a rough street layout of Reepham and the shop positions for him to work from.
 
“Once the drawing was done, I gathered text and contact details from everyone involved and did a layout/design of the brochure for the printer,” she explained.
 
The map is available at all the listed businesses on the map and also from various tourist information centres around Norfolk.
 
A second print run is being planned and the retailers are also looking into having the map printed onto wrapping paper, bags and tissue paper.