Picture this: Scotland’s thriving street art scene

Here’s where to find some of them.

LEITH

The Port of Leith has carved a reputation as an artistic quarter of Edinburgh, with a network of large scale murals, including its Leith History Mural at Great Junction Street and Ferry Road.

Created by artists Tim Chalk and Paul Grime and unveiled in 1986, it depicts Leith’s political history and rich maritime heritage.

Other Leith highlights include a striking new mural in featuring Leith-born artist artist Eduardo Paolozzi by artist Halla Groves-Raines, and Leith Aquatic Mural by Blameless Collective at Halmyre Street off Easter Road, which echoes the port’s maritime heritage and Leith Dockers Club in Academy Street, which depicts scenes from the dockyard.

At Teuchter’s Landing pub at the Shore, Edinburgh-based street artist Shona Hardie incorporated some of the port’s familiar faces.

She is also responsible for the poignant Arthur Williams mural, which pays homage to a well-known figure in the Leith area who, although homeless, devoted much of his time to helping others.

A new mural depicting artist Eduardo Paolozzi was unveiled in Leith in September (Image: PA) The Leith Walk and Constitution Street area has also been the focus of a project that’s seen established and aspiring street artists leave their stamp on utility boxes as part of an effort to support businesses impacted by years of trams work.

More than a dozen have been painted, with artists taking inspiration from local stories, industry and characters.

Quality Yard in Maritime Lane is a courtyard space that hosts street art exhibitions and events.

EDINBURGH

Artist Chris Rutterford has transformed the 140m Colinton Tunnel from a dingy walkway into a vibrant work of art.

He is also behind a new mural at Slaters Steps near the Palace of Holyroodhouse to mark the 900th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Burgh, and another at North Bridge.

Colinton Tunnel in Edinburgh (Image: Chris Rutterford)

Murals can be found along stretches of the Water of Leith, and in Abbeyhill, where Fraser Gray and Ben Fist’s eye-catching artwork tells a story of the local area complete with checkerboard floor from a local venue and a bright yellow car.

Recently Mexican muralist Draya Madú and Mexican artist Eva Paredes unveiled a new work at Edinburgh Direct Aid’s warehouse at West Harbour Rd that reflects on the work of the international charity.

Glasgow-based street artist Bobby McNamara, aka Rogue Oner, was behind a series of wildlife murals alongside the Union Canal.

PRESTONPANS

Prestonpans was one of the first towns in the country to create a mural trail.  

The original 35 murals unveiled in 2006 showing scenes of life in the East Lothian former mining town have been added to down the years and restored.

ABERDEEN

The Granite City was named this year by the Financial Times as one of the six ‘must see’ places in the world for street art joining Rio de Janeiro , San Francisco and Sydney.

There are currently more than 60 signature large works on buildings around the city centre, accompanied by many other smaller street art pieces.

Gable end mural on Aberdeen’s Union Street (Image: PA)

The scene is driven by Nuart Aberdeen the annual street art festival. Held in June, it’s brought thousands of local, regional and international visitors to the city centre.

Recent additions to the city’s mural map is a striking image of a girl on Union Point by Hera of Herakut (Jasmin Siddiqui) visible for miles around, and mythical creatures on walls at Aberdeen International Airport created by local artist KMG.

The St Mungo mural on High Street, Glasgow (Image: PA)

GLASGOW

Glasgow has a strong street art scene, with its Billy Connolly trio, Smug’s hyper-realistic St Mungo-inspired murals and, among the more recent, a portrait of Kiefer Sutherland from his The Lost Boys role by Rogue One.

Part of the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) project, SWG3’s Yardworks G.R.I.D project plans to transform gable ends with new, large-scale murals, creating an open-air gallery trail and attracting visitors to the area.

 

Invergordon mural trail has boosted visitors to the town (Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)  INVERGORDON

The mural trail at the Highland town of Invergordon near Inverness is set to celebrate its 21st year

Devised to lure tourists to the town, it has around a dozen murals that depict daily life, including scenes from its lifeboat station, fire fighters and pipes and drums of Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band.

FALKIRK 

A large battle scene mural by artist Chris Rutterford depicting the 1298 Battle of Falkirk was unveiled earlier this year in the town. The mural shows the moments before the battle and featurs the faces of over 100 people from around Scotland who helped crowdfund the project.

Artist Chris Rutterford in front of a new mural depicting the Battle of Falkirk (Image: Christopher Rutterford)

AYRSHIRE

Still work in progress, one of Scotland’s largest murals is being created in Alloway Railway Tunnel in a bid to turn it from a graffiti covered area to a welcoming attraction.

Earlier this year, a huge and brightly coloured mural of Robert Burns by artist was unveiled in Kilmarnock.

DUNBLANE

A 20ft mural showing Andy Murray in mid ‘roar’ was unveiled in August at Dunblane Sports Club, where he learned to play tennis as a child.  

 

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.