Back in November 2012 I was contacted by Thomas Brown from The Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre about the potential for a large scale mural project which would take place in a rather neglected underpass under West Granton Road. The project would involve the participation of young people from the Fet Lor Youth Centre working alongside MSCreative to create and implement a mural sometime in March 2013.?á
Later in December we met with Charlie Cummings from Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust to discuss the general outcomes for the project.?á The idea was to create a vibrant mural loosely based around the Edinburgh Innertube map a guide to the various cycleways around the city. We agreed the mural would focus primarily on the routes connecting North Edinburgh.?á
Throughout December, January and February?á i worked alongside the Fet Lor Youth Group on a series of Workshops involving design and Spraycan Art techniques. I also researched and created designs that would be used on the Final Mural depicting landmarks which could be seen along the cycleways in the North Edinburgh area. The idea being the images would connect with the colourways used to symbolise each cycleways route as depicted on the Innertube Map.(the innertube Map takes it’s inspiration from the London Underground map)
Work started in March this year and the mural was completed in April due to some unforeseen winter weather conditions.?á
The project was funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery, City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust.
Thanks to all the folk at Fet Lor – Craw, Shiela and the Lads. Thomas Brown, Roy and Linda at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Charlie Cumming and Liz Stewart from Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Mark and Tom from the Innertube Blog and Brian McFeely for all their help and participation in seeing this project through to its completion. ?á
Chris Young
MSCreative
- Artwork complete , added some extra details to the exterior surfaces – map lines and logos.
- Fet Lor Young Person adding some finishing touches to there design.
- Brian preparing the final Innertube Logo.
- Fet Lor Young Person adding the finishing touches.
- A few of the Fet Lor crew who made it down for opening of the tunnel.
- Innertube Map logo and the iconic Persevere Court in Leith.
- Another Shore landmark – The Swing Bridge. The park bench and Duck represent the various parks along the cycleways. Also the other half of the Persevere court flats.
- I found this image looking for something to depict the Botanical Gardens, this was originally an illustration from a 1940’s guide to the gardens. It was a challenge to paint but i’m pleased with the outcome.
- Stockbridge Market archway.
- Newhaven Harbour , in some ways the centre point to the design and to the Coast line of Edinburgh again a good excuse to inject some vibrancy into the tunnel. The Medic info graphic relates to The Western General Hospital
- Completed Fet Lor piece. Fet Lor is one of the oldest Youth Centres in Scotland and is still in it’s original building since it’s move to Crewe Toll in 1956. The Club is going through a major rebuild and the work has already begun on building a state of the art Youth Centre on the original site. The idea behind the piece was to mix the old with the new uisng text and show some of the activities fet Lor is known for sports and outdoor activities Hill Climbing , canoeing, Football and Orienteering.
- A modern take on the railway theme – the Blue line on the map will take a would be commuter on a very scenic route to Haymarket station
- Forth Rail Bridge and sunset injecting a bit of warmth into the tunnel.
- The Iconic Gas Towers at Lower Granton Road , sightings of Deer have been known to happen hence the deer.
- When i first started researching the project back in December i read a locally produced book by the North Edinburgh Social History Group. I liked the fact it was mainly about familys and people who made major changes to the area in regards to housing and social rights. I used this logo idea based around empowerment and unity.
- Skatepark and skater. Plans are in motion to build a skatepark in Drylaw in the near future.
- Telford College is only 5 mins walk from the tunnel.
- Dog walker and harbour logo.
- Combining the Cycleways and original railway lines which the majority of the cycleways are based on.
- Funders Logo
- Steam Railway a nod to the Cycleways past.
- Funders Logo
- Funders Logo
- Putting some finishing touches to the MSCreative logo.
- The kinked part of the map depicted here is the actual map location of the Underpass. Thanks to Mark Sydenham for the idea.
- Botanics Hothouse detail. Arthur Seat and the Crags.
- Fet-Lor detail.
Fantastic set of photos – thanks for posting Chris!