#mural trail

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Glastonbury Mural Trail - Five Years On

Glastonbury Mural Trail - Five Years On

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[scullofkev]

Glasgow Mural Trail - Part 5

Mural 11 - Argyle Street Cafe, Argyle Street

This mural by Smug was a reinterpretation of his previous mural at the same site. On an unused shop front on the corner of Argyle Street and Miller Street, Smug created a cafe scene where exotic animals had went for some lunch.

When we arrived, the building was surrounded with scaffolding and we couldn’t get a proper view. I managed to climb up with a hand from Alex and Antz (a punty as they say in Glasgow) and take a quick snap of the elephant behind bars.

Sadly, this mural is no longer there since the building was refurbished, an unintentional victim of regeneration work.

Here’s an image from its glory days with some fabulous Glesga’ buskers playing some tunes. With no mural in sight, we took the opportunity to nip in for a pint in Cairns Bar instead!

Detour 7 - Murals at Sloans Pub, Argyle Street

Further down the street we stopped to look at the murals in the archway through to Sloans Pub. The brilliant Are Ye Dancin, Are Yae Askin murals are a fitting tribute to Glasgow double act Francie and Josie, with some famous Scottish imagery.

Through the tunnel in the beer garden of Sloans, there’s another impressive mural of a bride and groom sharing a kiss. Antz and I recreated this, with some odd looks from smokers outside the pub - only a little tongue was used!

Mural 12 - The World’s Most Economical Taxi, Mitchell Street

This has to be one of my favourite murals of the whole trail, with Rogue-One’s image of a floating Glasgow taxi. This really brightens up an otherwise bleak city street. The shadows of the man and balloon really bring this image to life.

Our version has me taking off, whilst a shocked Alex attempts to flag the taxi down.

Detour 8 - Sailor With a Pipe, Mitchell Street

Another small bonus mural of a sailor with a pipe can be found just to the right of the taxi mural and I swiftly turned my sunglasses into a makeshift pipe for our recreation photo.

Mural 13 - Honey... I Shrunk the Kids, Mitchell Street

Another of my favourite murals features a lady looking through a magnifying glass, akin to the famous film of the same name. The artist has cleverly added his nickname to the chain around her neck.

In our photo I have been spotted and captured. Some precision photography was required to get this angle correct!

Mural 14 - Wind Power, Mitchell Street

This mural celebrates Scotland’s sustainable energy sector, with a creative take on wind power by Rogue-One and Art Pistol, installed as part of the Doors Open Day 2014 event. 

Our version has Alex as the blonde lady and Antz as the dandelion... I am sure you will agree perfectly cast!

Go to Glasgow Mural Trail Part 6

[scullofkev]

Glasgow Mural Trail - Part 4

Detour 4 - The ‘Big Yin’ Mural, Gallowgate

The Big Yin mural is one of three murals in Glasgow dedicated to, arguably, Glasgow’s most famous son, Billy Connolly.  The murals were created in 2017 to celebrate Connolly’s 75th birthday, a collaboration between Glasgow City Council, the Art Pistol Projects and BBC Scotland (who aired Billy Connolly: Portrait of a Lifetime, a documentary filming Billy Connolly’s reaction to seeing the murals).

Despite being one of the most famous murals in Glasgow, due to the above publicity, the Big Yin mural is the only mural of the three not to be included in the Glasgow Mural trail. Although it falls slightly outside of the Glasgow City Centre area, I’d argue that such an iconic image should be inserted into the route, as it is only a seven minute walk from the Spaceman Mural, and then only a five minute walk to the next mural.

Anyway, we made the effort to go and see it and it’s a cracker. Designed by Rachel Maclean, The Big Yin features Billy in a Bonnie Prince Charlie inspired outfit, which includes references to some of his most famous jokes, including the infamous 'bike parked in bum’ joke, told on Parkinson.

Our version has me as Billy and Antz as... well... whatever it is he's holding.

7. Study of a Woman in Black (2), St Andrews Street

After checking oot the Big Yin we walked for five minutes to St Andrews Street to check out the next mural, one of 2 murals of the same name, by James Klinge.

In the photo, Klinge studies the female form with a portrait of an anonymous subject dressed in black.

I happily put on a pensive, smouldering face to mimic the artwork and was successfully dressed in black, however failed in the quest to be a woman.

Detour 5 - Scullion Law

All you need to know for this photo is that we walked by this shop on Saltmarket and my surname is Scullion.

8. Study of a Woman in Black (1), Steel Street

Similar to number seven, James Klinge paints another woman in black. I have no idea why number two comes before number one, surely just reverse the numbers?

Antz also failed at being a woman... shame on you!

Detour 6 - Child Under an Umbrella

I can't find any information on who painted this small mural but we walked passed it on Bridgegate en route to the next mural so I jumped in for a quick snap.

9. The Clutha, Clyde Street

The Clutha Bar in Glasgow was tragically made infamous in 2013 when a police helicopter crashed into the pub, killing all three passengers onboard and seven people inside the pub. The pub closed for over two years, during which time it was refurbished, including the addition of the murals to the exterior which were unveiled at the reopening in 2015. The mural is a collaboration by Rogue-One, Art Pistol and Ejek and illustrates a collection of celebrities who either drank or performed in the pub.

In 2018, the Clutha opened a beer garden at the back of the pub, and unveiled another mural, a 60 by 50 ft wall mounted mural, celebrating the 150th anniversary year of one of the city’s most iconic designers, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

Our recreation involved me acting as Paulo Nutini, with Antz as my trusty microphone.

Mural 10 - Billy Connolly, Osborne Street

Another of the murals unveiled in honor of The Big Yin’s 75th birthday, you’ll find Billy at the rear of a building on Osborne Street. This is based on John Byrne’s portrait of Billy in his later years and it’s a belter!

Our version involved me copying Billy's pose, and some crafty use of my mobile phone.

Go to Glasgow Mural Trail Part 5

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