Three Rivers are working with artist Tom James to explore and celebrate the historic traditions of bonfire-building and fire-watching in Bexley.

About Tom James

Photograph of victorian children around a bonfire
Tom James (b.1982) is an artist living in London, UK, who creates projects where people can learn new skills, imagine new ways of living, and actually get their hands dirty to give them a try.

Recent projects include Absolute Beginners, a new factory for Park Royal industrial estate in north-west London, where young people can learn how to make everyday products in radically sustainable ways; and Weather Show, a year-long programme at Camden Art Centre, working with young people with Special Educational Needs to bring the outside in. Tom’s work has been featured across the British press, whilst his cult fanzine about Sheffield, GO, is part of the permanent collection of the V&A.

About Three Rivers

Three Rivers logo
Three Rivers is a free-floating social arts agency. We work with local partners to support creative practices, which recognise, resource and respond to people, places, land and community, in the London Borough of Bexley.

Three Rivers is funded by Arts Council England, through a programme called Creative People and Places which focuses on parts of the country where involvement in arts and culture is significantly below the national average.

Bexley is one of those places and Three Rivers is the result.

Our programme is hosted by Peabody Trust, with support from Orbit Housing and Red House, National Trust.

The Fire Watchers event, Hurst Community Centre, Hurst Road, DA5 3LH

An evening of spectacular outdoor fire performances inspired by the historic traditions of bonfire building in Bexley and co-created with Bexley Scouts took place on Saturday 21 February 2026.

Throughout the evening, the sculpture was at the centre of a programme of spectacular outdoor fire performances, accompanied by hot food, live music, and an interactive Fire Fayre for all ages.

View the event in pictures

Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre
Firewatcher's event at Hurst Community Centre