The latest and last of the popular subway artwork in Chaddlewood has now been completed, ready for families to walk the mural trail in the summer holiday season.
The theme for the sixth and final subway was sea creatures and the environment.
Local artist Ellie Johnson had help designing the murals from pupils at Chaddlewood and Glen Park primary schools. There was a clear passion from the children for saving the planet, oceans , keeping the environment clean and protecting wildlife, inspired by talks given by local environmental groups Clean Our Patch and Art and Energy.
Many of the children produced some very impressive drawings, using the Clean Our Patch mascot ‘Peanut’ to create turtles and other underwater creatures.
For this final underpass, Mrs Murals created a colourful design that incorporated species found around our local shores such as Atlantic cod, Atlantic salmon, Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles, a White Beaked Dolphin, a Guillemot, a Basking Shark and a hedgehog – by popular demand from local passers-by!
All of these species are listed by WWF as being affected by climate change and are classed as vulnerable or endangered species. Also included is a jellyfish, which aren’t endangered but featured heavily in the children’s drawings. Jellyfish are a source of food for turtles, but our hard-shell aquatic friends often mistake them for plastic bags.
To increase enjoyment of her designs and to further give back to the community she works in, Mrs Murals will be uploading a map of all the special artwork on her Facebook Mrs Murals |Facebook and Instagram pages giving an ideal, free, local activity for families to take part in. The map will give suggested challenges at each subway, allowing adults and children alike to uncover all the hidden treasures within the artwork.
The murals in the subways have triggered much excitement, local residents have given fantastic feedback. Many people are using them as a thought-provoking walking ‘trail’ for the discussion and consideration of nature conservation, littering and improving the environment.
Ellie is well known locally as Mrs Murals for her impressive designs in local subways, her public artwork around Plymouth in addition to interior mural designs in hotels, schools, homes and clubs.
