Pupils are talking art

A new mural to brighten the seafront at Ardrossan is due for completion next month.

Pupils at Ardrossan Academy and the local community have been working with artist Alison Thomas to create an iconic mural, entitled “Talking images”, at the site of the old St Peters School. The project is backed by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company.

The work will replace an earlier mural, created by pupils from the school in 2008, which has deteriorated because of the weather. The new mural will be three dimensional, and involves a creative take on young people’s hopes for the town.

The mural will link in with the ‘talking wall’ at Saltcoats promenade, where the thoughts and views of local people will be etched into granite plaques.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, said: “We are delighted to support this project as it creates a welcome, bright, iconic feature on the seafront where once there was a derelict site. It will create a landmark, and forms part of our chain of coastal beacons to highlight the wonderful waterfront of this area.”

The creation of the mural is also being turned into a video diary, and that and the artwork will form an exhibition to run once the mural opens. The project is supported by McLaughlin Construction and funding secured from Awards for All Scotland, a project that is backed by the Scottish Arts Council, The Big Lottery Fund and SportsScotland.

In 2008, the pupils also created a stunning coastal garden which remains on the site.