The Chester BID commissioned trail of mini murals painted on BT cabinets across the city centre is now live. As another part of the ‘Chester Designed By Nature’ campaign launched by Destination Chester, 10 BT cabinets have been transformed into colourful murals within the city centre. Usually painted dark green, BT Openreach gave special permission for the cabinets to be painted for the benefit of the city’s community. Eight Cheshire artists were commissioned to paint the murals with the theme of ‘Chester Designed By Nature’. Each artist has interpreted the theme in their own way, delivering an array of unique, colourful artworks to be enjoyed by passers-by.
The artists range from art school graduates to accomplished artists and Chester household names like Julie Colclough who owns a gallery on Watergate Street and Nikki Pinder who hid art around the city during covid lockdowns to brighten people’s days.
Carl Critchlow, BID manager, Chester BID said: ‘It was important for us to commission this within the rich pool we have of local artists, firstly to make sure we invest in our Cheshire creative communities but also because the artists already have a relationship with the city, and their interpretations of Chester will be all the more engaging because of it.’
He added: ‘We would implore visitors to download our map and search out the mini-murals as part of a day out in Chester. The artists are hard at work creating the designs now with the full set to be completed by March 21st.’
The Chester Designed By Nature campaign has also brought Spring Blooms to the city, with large art installations in place throughout March alongside a calendar of free events, including last weekend’s Enchanted Forest Festival. Carl Critchlow said: ‘These ‘hidden objects’ are not even usually noticed by visitors – and now they can bring great joy as pieces of public art, fostering pride in our high street and enhancing the quality of the city centre experience for residents and visitors.’
Other artists featured include the internationally known Mark Wigan. Mark has painted two cabinets at the end of Bridge street and recently told the Chester Standard: “I call it the Iconography of Spring. Inspired by nature. My black and white artwork incorporates biomorphic forms, vines seeds, flowers, figures and Tudor motifs from the buildings of Chester…I have enjoyed painting this mini mural in my home city.”. Mark has also recently painted a mural at the pop up art gallery/ workshop in Town Hall square.
Nikki Pinder said “I’m really happy about how they’ve turned out and the hugely positive response from the public and online has been insane!”
Sophia Shaw : “I wanted to bring the countryside in to the city and just generally make people smile”
The Chester blog 