Mural of Paula
THE Ladybird Collective street art initiative has seen the completion of the mural depicting multiple world champion marathon winner, Paula Radcliffe MBE.
A trio of men, Raffaele Russo, Charnwood Borough councillor, Coun Ted Parton, and Nick Hardy who have adopted the name Ladybird Collective, embarked on an ambitious plan to create an art trail of murals in town - producing 17 murals.
The group’s name has been chosen with a nod towards the town’s heritage - referencing Loughborough’s famous Ladybird Books production.
Nick Hardy said choosing Paula as the first of the ‘iconic’ local images required very little debate: “One of the stated aims of the Ladybird Collective is to produce high quality artworks that represent our town’s rich and varied heritage, and clearly this includes an array of illustrious sporting alumni.
“Whilst living and studying in Loughborough, Paula was a familiar and friendly figure and she retains close connections with the town.”
The mural itself is on Pinfold Gate, on the side wall of the constituency offices of MP Nicky Morgan and overlooking the car park of John Skillen’s Martial Arts & Fitness Centre.
The work itself was completed by the Ladybird Collective’s ‘resident’ mural artist, Dan ‘Buber Nebz’ Smith and is a departure in style that he was delighted to so successfully accomplish.
Nick Hardy said: “I kept dropping by while Dan was working and he seemed to be loving the challenge of doing something that for him, was quite different.
“Now he’s asking me when we can start work on the Air Vice Marshal Johnnie Johnson job!”
Nick added that the final word must belong with the lady herself: “Having been contacted by Ladybird Collective member, Coun Ted Parton, who sent a photograph of the finished work. Paula immediately responded via Twitter, where @paulajradcliffe has over 236,000 Followers, with: ‘Wow! What an honour. Thank you.’”