Black Country Type is the work of artist Tom Hicks.

In this ongoing art project, he applies his unique aesthetic to the region, focusing on words, typography, handmade lettering and signs. He also photographs ‘types’ of architectural features, objects and the post-industrial landscape of the area.

Hicks is an acclaimed multidisciplinary artist, with photography forming the basis of his work in other media. In recent years he has worked in film, graphic design, and sculpture. He was the art director on National Average, the recent album by Big Special.
In 2025, Hicks created ‘You Are Here’, a public sculpture commissioned by Ikon Gallery and Transport for West Midlands.

His work has been exhibited widely, most recently in solo exhibitions at Birmingham City University and at the University of Cambridge. It has also featured by The Guardian, BBC, Wallpaper and Dezeen.

His new book ‘Black Country Type II’ explores the Heart of England and post-industrialisation like few titles have before. Published by The Modernist, the book captures this largely unseen region, without glitz or glamour, revealing the changes in Britain’s built environment and its unique mix of architectural styles through the eyes of someone who has dedicated their career to documenting it.