Mural set for city water tower
A50ft-high mural designed by Super Furry Animals artist Pete Fowler is being unveiled on a Cardiff landmark.
The iconic water tower outside Cardiff Central railway station will be given a new lease of life after being transformed into a colourful mural of Welsh legends.
The mural was being installed today by Literature Wales in partnership with Cadw as part of Visit Wales’ £5m Year of Legends tourism campaign.
Drawing inspiration from the Welsh Mabinogion, the artwork shows the giant Bendigeidfran, maiden Blodeuwedd and goddess Rhiannon among other figures.
The colourful wraparound design also features the stag slain by the ghostly hounds of Arawn, Lord of Annwn, and the crown known as the harbinger of death throughout the legends.
The concrete tower, which is opposite the Millennium Stadium in Wood Street, was originally built in 1932 to replenish the water supplies of steam engines.
Before falling into disrepair the tower was previously decorated with advertising and the image of daffodils, becoming a landmark for rail travellers.
In 2012 it was renovated using brown and beige paint – the original colours of Great Western Railway.
The mural was designed by Welsh artist Fowler after a six-stop Weird & Wonderful Wales tour with 30 writers to explore its most unusual stories.
In a planning application submitted to Cardiff Council in 2014, the acclaimed artist described the idea as a landmark to “welcome visitors to the Welsh capital”.
He added that he hoped the mural, which will be on display throughout 2018, would be “bright, fun and eyecatching”. Further murals by Fowler retelling Welsh legends will now be installed at six Cadw sites in Conwy, Gwynedd, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Torfaen.
Best known for creating album artwork for psychedelic rockers Super Furry Animals, the acclaimed artist has also launched a series of free comics bringing tales about two Welsh castles to life.
The comics, which are free to download from the Cadw website, illustrate the story of Welsh warrior princess Gwenllian and the Mabinogion’s tragic tale about Branwen ferch Llyr.