Artists work together to brighten up dingy underpasses

TWO dingy underpasses in Weston-super-Mare are being given a new lease of life – thanks to a team of talented artists.

Priory Community School Academy (PCSA), part of The Priory Learning Trust (TPLT) is working with a team of 15 artists to transform two underpasses near the school.

The project is being led by local artist Martin Darcy whose two children attended the school.

Vegetation has been cleared from the walls of the underpasses, which run under Queensway, with the artists first covering them with a base coat.

They are now being painted with a nature theme with images including a fox, hare, squirrel and trees.

It is hoped the project will be completed within the next fortnight. All the artists involved are giving their time for free.

The academy wanted to bring together a project to look to the future post-pandemic.

Their students and staff have helped the community in huge ways since the start of lockdown 18 months ago.

In the summer, a teacher at the school won a prestigious UK award after helping to make nearly 5,000 NHS face masks during the pandemic.

Principal Angelos Markoutsas said: “This is going to be a brilliant community project used and seen by thousands of people throughout the years to come. We wanted our students and entire community to be able to enjoy visually outstanding underpasses.”

Martin has painted dozens of incredible artworks across Britain for many years – including the giant turtle mural on the wall of the Royal Hotel in Weston-super-Mare.

He said: “It was an absolute honour and a privilege to create some post-Covid lockdown artwork on these underpasses. We wanted to celebrate nature, the environment and all that is good.”

TPLT also raises tens of thousands of pounds each year to help charities as part of its community and civic duty.