Chiswick speciality coffee shop and bakery Tamp Coffee is giving away takeaway cups featuring artwork by the late West London street artist Helch, turning a creative collaboration into an unexpected tribute.
Following the unexpected news of his death just days after the collaboration launched (see Helch’s final Instagram post here featuring the collab), the independent coffee shop had commissioned Helch, whose distinctive lettering and striking street art have become a familiar sight across West London. The aim was to simply bring his signature style to its takeaway coffee cups, but what began as a celebration of local creativity has taken on a deeper meaning, with the cups now serving as a tribute to an artist whose work Tamp admired long before the collaboration.
Rather than selling the limited-edition cups, Tamp is giving them away, offering customers the chance to take home a small piece of Helch’s artwork when they buy a coffee, and celebrate the legacy of an artist whose work has become part of the fabric of West London.
For Tamp, the collaboration reflects the independent coffee shop’s longstanding connection to its local community and its appreciation of the creative people who help shape the character of the area. By bringing Helch’s artwork into people’s everyday coffee routines, the project was intended to celebrate the intersection of street art, neighbourhood culture and independent businesses.
The news of Helch’s death, which emerged just days after the cups launched, has given the collaboration an unexpected poignancy and they deliberately haven’t publicised it until now. The cups now offer a tangible way for customers to engage with his work and remember an artist whose visual identity has left a lasting mark on the streets of West London.
Dorian Needs, founder of Tamp Coffee, commented: “We’ve always believed that independent businesses have a role to play in celebrating the people and creativity that make our neighbourhoods special. Helch’s work was part of the fabric of West London, and we’d admired his art for a long time, so working with him on these cups was something we were really excited about. It’s incredibly sad that Hech is no longer with us, and the timing has made this collaboration all the more poignant. We wanted to give the cups away rather than put a price on them, so that people in the community can enjoy a little piece of his work and join us in celebrating the legacy he leaves behind. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who knew him.”
Founded by Dorian Needs in 2014, Tamp is an independent coffee shop on Devonshire Road in Chiswick, inspired by his experiences travelling and spending time in South America, particularly Brazil, where he developed a passion for Latin American coffee culture, food and hospitality.
Dorian’s passion for street art extends beyond the collaboration with Helch. The coffee shop has long championed the role of art in shaping local identity, commissioning a mural on the wall outside its shop, as well as a mural across the road. These projects reflect Tamp’s commitment to celebrating creativity and supporting the artists who help make West London’s streets and neighbourhoods distinctive.
Customers can visit Tamp Coffee at 1 Devonshire Road, Chiswick, W4 2EU, to get their hands on one of the limited edition cups, with any purchase.
