Rural Scotland lit up by stunning street art

HOUSES, barns, and industrial buildings across rural southern Scotland have been transformed by murals from some of Europe’s top street artists.

Artists Will Barras and Amy Winstanley take a break from painting an old barn at East Knockbrex Farm, near Newton Stewart. Picture: Colin Hattersley

A large hay shed near Newton Stewart, a former electricity sub-station at Stranraer and a pottery in Meikle Dyke have all been transformed with huge multi-coloured artworks.

Iain Service, owner of the Newton Stewart shed, said: “I have a real sentimental attachment to this barn, it’s been here all my life and I remember stacking the hay in there on hot summer days when I was a boy. But it had reached the end of its life and I was about to knock it down when I heard of Rural Mural.

“I thought this would be a great way to give it a big send off, a real final party. I’ve encouraged the artists to be as bold and bright as they want so the old hayshed can really say something – make a big statement – before it finally goes. It deserves a final fling!

The artworks are part of the Spring Fling Rural Mural project, led by Amy Whiten and Ali Wyllie of Glasgow street art and graffiti gallery Recoat.

Whiten said: “We’ve got an amazing combination of nationally and internationally-known street artists working with some incredibly talented people from the region to create the murals – and the results are fantastic.”

Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “Spring Fling is all about bringing art to the widest possible audience, and there couldn’t be a better way of doing it than Rural Mural. It’s colourful, fun and something that everyone can enjoy. We hope the murals will be a real attraction for visitors to the region, especially during the Spring Fling open studios weekend.”

A grain silo, a set of aircraft fuel tanks and a horse blanket are among the next pieces to be worked on by artists.