William (bc) (Bill) Collins Pictured with his Pig Statue in the Garage at 180 West South Street

Artist and signmaker William (bc) (Bill) Collins is shown here in his garage studio at 180 West South Street, posed next to his completed pig statue that would be displayed in front of the Pig Iron BBQ, 5295 North High Street. The Pig Iron BBQ opened at this spot in Beechwold in June 2001, in what had formerly been a McDonald's restaurant. In June, 2012, the Pig Iron changed ownership and became Iron Grill Barbeque & Brew, but the well-known pig sign out front remained.

On the side of the pig in the photograph is painted in red the words "Mike & Wally's BBQ." Upon its soft opening, the restaurant bore this name, but was changed shortly thereafter to the Pig Iron BBQ.

The sculpture was created from high density urethane built on a framework made by Fortin and carved by bc. The sculpture has LED lights for the eyes.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, bc attended Columbus College of Art and Design when it was still a small art school, majoring in Fine Art. After serving in the Army in Europe, he became a sign artist for businesses throughout the Columbus area, starting his sole ownership sign business in 1978. Over nearly three decades, he created some of the most iconic advertising art in central Ohio.

Before the advent of computers and the use of vinyl, bc designed, created and sold his signs marketing his work through word of mouth. He cut letters with a router, made and pounced patterns, projected designs on a variety of objects then finished the job by painting and installing the sign.

bc created signs for numerous Worthington-area businesses, including Angels on High, Scottie MacBean, Pig Iron BBQ (now Iron Grill Barbeque and Brew), P.K. O'Ryan's, The Old Bag of Nails Pub, Celtic Corner, Magic Cruises & Tours and M.S. Abbott Jewelers.

In addition to his sign art, bc was an accomplished muralist, sculptor and painter of portraits, landscapes and other work, which were exhibited in galleries throughout central Ohio. In April 2022, bc’s 1992, 25-foot mural of the Columbus skyline became part of the permanent collection at The Ohio Arts Council.

bc said about his painting: "I love the aesthetics of all styles of art, but using oil, I favor creating atmospheric qualities in my realistic to abstract paintings. I enjoy completing oil pastels from my travels. The mesmerizing full moon is important in my life; I often portray it in my paintings."

bc and his family lived in Worthington for 22 years.