Mural by the Rudhall Brook

A corrugated iron fence next to the Rudhall Brook does no favours for that location in Ross on Wye. Consequently, several years ago murals were painted on it, one section depicting a colourful street scene with lights, the other with frogs, ducks and other animals to be seen on the Brook. In recent years it has shown its age somewhat and so sections are being re-painted and painted with different images. This duck's head took my fancy, particularly the glowing red eye amongs the blues and turquoise.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Coleford mural

The small Gloucestershire town of Coleford is located in the Forest of Dean, a former coal mining and iron working area. On a wall of one of the town's houses is a mural that celebrates three writers who lived in the area - Joyce Latham, F.W. Harvey and Dennis Potter. I imagine that I am quite typical in that I don't know anything of the first two names. I do, however, know quite a bit about Dennis Potter, particularly his innovative series for TV that include Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

The Herdsman mural, Hereford

We came upon the mural in today's post purely by chance. A little research discovered that it is one of eight that aim to brighten up the city. I'm not the biggest fan of such things, but when the quality is good I can appreciate a mural as much as anyone. And this one is, I think, very good. It enlivens part of "The Herdsman" pub, a hostelry dating from 1900. The pub's name must surely derive from the location outside the former city walls on Widemarsh Street, along which cattle (and sheep) would be driven into the city, and where there was a cattle market.

The depicted cattle are, of course, the world-famous Herefordshire breed, and the apples may well be cider apples, the county and city being known for cider-making.

I can't explain the flowers that form part of the cattle, nor do I know quite why the robin has a visible heart, but these details all add interest to a fine piece of work, by Curtis Hylton, that is a pleasure to view.

photos 1 & 2 © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10
photo3 © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Music venue mural

A music venue in the Herefordshire market town of Ross on Wye advertises its presence with a painted mural on the exterior walls. Interestingly the artist chosen for this commission decided on a limited palette of sepia/earth tones, in a comic-book style, of jazz musicians. It is a striking piece and much better than many such works that I've seen.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

BHS, Hull

When, in 1971, I moved from the Yorkshire Dales market town of Settle to the East Yorkshire city and port of Kingston upon Hull, it was something of a culture shock. The countryside, hills, mountains, valleys and villages of the Dales were replaced by the imposing city buildings and flat, urban sprawl of the city. I was often asked if I regretted the move and my answer was always the same - "No"- because the visual interest and history of the city was something that I appreciated and which provided a seemingly endless supply of subjects for my camera. One of the most noticeable buildings was the BHS store in the main shopping area. This former Co-operative store has a huge, fine and imposing, concave mural of 1963 by Alan Boyson that references the city's fishing fleet.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10     2015

Mural, Cinderford, Gloucestershire

Street murals that are painted with the support of the community are just as variable as those produced in a clandestine manner by a graffitist. This example, in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, is to my mind, at the better end of the continuum. It is in a collage form, similar to how a pin board might be covered in cut or torn photographs with snippets of text. It seeks to celebrate notable Forest of Dean personalities and keep alive and celebrate some of the language peculiarities of the area.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100