Mural helps Restore life to street
ABATTLEFIELD shop is being hailed by residents as “making a difference in the area” – all without even opening yet. Battlefield Restoration is due to open on the corner of Sinclair Drive and Dundrennan Road in the South Side community in a few weeks’ time, but decided to add a splash of colour to the street while the shutters remain down.
Craig Walker, owner of Battlefield Restoration, decided to draft in graffiti art company Colour Ways to create a colourful and vibrant mural on the outside cladding.
Craig said: “It’s looking really fantastic.
“We thought that while the shopfront is boarded up and covered, we could make it a bit more colourful so I contacted
Colour Ways who have done a fantastic job with it.”
The mural itself was created by graffiti artist Taio, and depicts a colourful elephant on the shopfront among other images.
Louise Barry, who lives in a flat above the shop, said: “It’s unbelievable what Craig has done since moving into the shop.
“The close and the shop were a bit run- down before and the difference is huge, just from having that mural outside our front door – it’s made an instantaneous impact to brighten up the place.
“The difference he has made to the entire community, and without even opening yet, is amazing.”
After damage to the building previously, Louise says that this sort of community spirit is something which has brought everyone together again.
She said: “There was work needing done last year that couldn’t get paid for and half of
the people in the close had to move out.
“The work has since been done, and thanks to Craig, people were able to get back into their homes.
“He really has turned the entire building around and us as residents couldn’t be more thankful of that.”
Battlefield Restoration, which will be housed in the old Sinclair Mini Market site, will help to restore antique and older items, something which Craig is passionate about.
He said: “When we came into this building, it was almost falling down really.
“We got to work to help get it back up to scratch and restore the inside of the building too.”
The store will see Victorianinspired decor, with mosaic tile and “fly- trapper” lamps decorating the floor.
Craig said: “The plan is for the store to look like an old- time restoration and repair shop, that’s the thinking when putting in the mosaic tiles and lamps.
“And everything that we make or restore will be for sale – which I’m very passionate about.”
Craig is also looking forward to opening the shop in Battlefield as the demand for eco- friendly shopping alternatives increases.
He said: “A lot is said about revitalising the high street and making it vibrant, but I think the way in which we have done this really hit the nail on the head.
“We are hoping to open in around three weeks’ time and I’m looking forward to getting going.”