Stunning images of White Cliffs in great international marketing campaign

20 July 2012

A press release from Visit Kent

Dover’s iconic White Cliffs feature in the latest image to be posted around the world ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the Government’s GREAT campaign.

LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games), the Government Office for England, and Kent County Council (KCC) working in partnership with Visit Kent, joined forces to commission the stunning projection on the landmark overlooking the Channel.

The renowned artist Ross Ashton designed and oversaw painting the invitation with lights on the rugged chalk faces overlooking the English Channel.

Mr Ashton gained worldwide recognition for his skills when he projected images on Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Since then he has received commissions to project his light paintings and son et lumiere displays on numerous historic and significant building.

It is the third time the 2012 GREAT tourism marketing campaign, which has the personal backing of Prime Minister David Cameron, has featured images of Kent internationally to promote the Olympic Games.

A stunning photograph of Hever Castle with a white horse and rider in the foreground was one of the earliest images to be presented in posters and print while a short film made at Hever with Dame Judi Dench has been broadcast around the world.

Minister for Sport and Olympics Hugh Robertson said: “The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic feature of the Kent landscape and recognised internationally as the gateway to Britain. In this Paralympic Year, Ross Ashton’s light projection really shows off the Cliffs and highlights the UK’s flare for creativity.”

Sandra Matthews-Marsh, chief executive at Visit Kent, said: “For thousands of visitors Kent will be the Gateway to the Games and many more will be coming to the Garden of England for a day out and a breath of fresh air during their time in London. And, of course, we are the host county for the Paralympic road cycling.

“The White Cliffs are famous across the world and this image is possibly one of the most striking that VisitBritain has produced in its successful campaign to attract people from around the world to our shores – if not for the 2012 summer of celebrations then in years to come.”

Mike Hill, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities, said: “This striking, memorable image sums up the all the power of our White Cliffs as a symbol of England and our pride in the warm welcome Kent offers to all its visitors.”