Artist sets his sights on brightening up hometown
ARTIST Martin Darcy i determined to make his home town of Westonsuper-Mare a brighter placec to live.
Self-confessed ‘hippy’ Martin, 65, is born and bred Weston. And it’s a town that he has loved all his life.
After a stint in art college in the 1970s, Martin decided to follow his heart and travel, touring the UK and Europe before returning to his hometown
From there he built up a successful business spraying cars, lorries and motorcycles alongside launching a car body repair business.
Now Martin’s talents are on show in many of Weston’s nightspots.
His murals cover many walls inside some of the resort’s favourite eateries and pubs.
It all started off with a pub called Vinnies, owned by Martin’s friend, Nelson Penfold.
Each year Martin spends hours painting the walls of the bar to the theme of the moment which has seen murals of the World Cup and major rugby tournaments adorn the plaster.
Last year Martin decided something needed to be done to the ugly hoardings outside the closed Marks and Spencer store in the High Street.
“Large black hoardings had been put up outside the shop,” he said. “It looked awful, depressing and tatty.”
Martin set about securing permission to paint the hoardings and sourced paint for free from a local company.
He then created a panorama of Weston including landmarks such as Birnbeck Pier, and in a nod to the dedication of key workers during the pandemic, Martin - with the help of apprentice Lin Toulcher - added figures of police officers, doctors and nurses to the artwork.
Next on his list was the wall on the side of the Royal Hotel.
Martin gathered support for the project to cover its cost with local people and businesses rallying behind him.
He then came up with four different themes and asked people to vote for their favourite.
A design featuring an orca whale and a tortoise was chosen and the mural, which took 10 days to complete, now takes pride of place.
“People come from all over to
see it and have their photographs taken in front of it,” said Martin.
“I think it was the biggest canvas I could find in Weston at that time. People really love it and that’s what it’s all about - to brighten up the town.
“I’ve received hundreds of messages from people commenting on it and saying thank you and how the art work is making Weston a more bright and colourful place.
Martin’s work can also be seen at restaurants including Bare Grills and the Smokehouse takeaway and restaurant.
Martin has already set his sights on his next project - the dull hoardings around the now defunct Sand Sculpture Festival.
“People in Weston say to me, ‘please keep painting the town,” because it cheers them up.
“It’s about making people smile and I am lucky to be able to paint nice things.
“It’s my gift to Weston.”