Inverness Merkinch murals bring colour to the streets
Following the success of mural projects in several other Scottish towns and cities in recent years, a new street art project has unveiled its first two murals in Merkinch in Inverness.
A year after being awarded funding from Inverness Common Good Fund, the newly-established Inverness Street Art Project (ISAP) has completed its pilot stage.
Thanks to supportive local businesses and Merkinch Community Council, the project has created two new murals at Mooney’s Premier shop on Lochalsh Road, and at the Best One shop in Benula Road.
“I was glad to be able to help this urban project get started,” Andrew Davidson, owner of Best One shop, said. “It’s brought some much-needed colour to our community and streets.”
Project manager Conor O’Hara said: “This is a proof-of-concept for our wee scheme.
“We couldn’t have started without the support from Highland Council, Merkinch Community Council and especially the money from the Common Good Fund.
“We are humbled with the incredibly positive feedback from locals on the street from our first murals.
“People seem really happy to see some imaginative colour in the area, and they are asking for more.”
Key to the project’s agenda is using local talent to deliver the murals.
Lead artist and ISAP co-founder, Claire Maclean, originally from Hilton in Inverness, took charge of the creative side of the project.
“Seeing the incredible vibrancy and social benefits of street art projects in other Scottish cities, I have wanted to help Inverness follow suit for many years,” she said.
“Now feels like the right time, and the local residents were extremely welcoming, encouraging and engaged with the process – proving the far-reaching positives murals in public spaces give.”
Claire’s mural is an underwater scene inspired by aquatic habitats flourishing amongst the Beauly Firth’s marine infrastructure.
“It has been an absolute pleasure adding colour in a thoroughfare of a wonderfully close-knit community,” she said.
“It’s really brightened up the place,” says Mooney’s shop owner Graeme Stuart.
“I’m overwhelmed by the positive response to Island of the Horse,” said artist Calum Carr, about his striking horse head design which is inspired by the original Gaelic for “Merkinch”.
Speaking from Edinburgh where he is taking part in the Edinburgh International Mural Festival, he added: “I loved painting in my hometown, and I hope the mural endures and continues to brighten up people’s days.
“We are receiving suggestions for potential places and spaces where we could deliver more murals and designs,” said Conor.
“Local businesses are also telling us that they are interested in allowing us to use their walls and shutters. As long as we get more funding to pay artists proper rates, we will endeavour to bring more colour to this area - and the city.
“There’s a growing movement across several groups here, including Mikeysline and The Clay Studio, to make murals and street art. In a time of great uncertainty and hardship for many of us, murals are a small but important example of how public art reminds us to bring imagination and creativity into our daily lives.”
“For future murals,” said Claire, “this project will utilise and give opportunities to our local creative talent: professionals, amateurs, students and school children. Whether they grew up here, or now call the Highlands home, this is about cultivating our own distinct visual identity, rooted in our own context.”
She added: “I’m very excited to see what comes next, and where this project might go.”
Communty council board member and local councillor Kate Maclean said: “Merkinch Community Council was very keen to help this project get started and we’re looking forward to Conor and Claire developing more sites in cooperation with local businesses and property owners.”