The park A work of art in
New look at an old electricity sub-station
THE NEWEST mural in town is in Braidburn Valley Park where a fabulously colourful design has brightened up a corner of the park at an electricity sub station, now displaying paintings of nature and animals, and reflecting the wildlife visitors might spot there. For many years the old building (on the western hillside, abutting the Fly Walk) has been something of a blot on the landscape.
Mural artist, Chris Rutterford, is a ‘Southside boy’ who is well known for his beautiful artwork in the Colinton Tunnel and now he has done it again.
Paul Bailey, Chair of the Friends of Braidburn Valley Park (FOBVP ) explained the genesis of the project. He said: “The building looked a complete mess until the electricity board did at last paint it over in grey. Then some ”artists” applied some graffiti - reasonably pleasantly - but obviously it needed a professional artist to make it more attractive.
“Andrew Swann, who was a previous Chair of FOBVP, first came up with a proposal for a radical facelift for the structure. Inspired by Chris Rutterford’s transformation of the Colinton Tunnel the proposal was to have murals decorate the substation, depicting images related to the Park, with the community involved in their creation. Previous chair of the Friends, Margaret Bruce, was also involved in grant applications - always a necessary part of any project like this.”
Meeting Chris Rutterford by chance on Thistle Street a few years back, I have since then admired his artwork, but he has recently become quite famous for brightening up the Colinton Tunnel and making it a real destination. The Friends of Braidburn Valley Park (FBVP ) hope to create something similar with the new work he has created for them. Mr Bailey said: ”We got a grant from the council and so, using some of our own funds we were able to get it done. Chris contacted the school and pupils painted parts of it there. You can see that most of it is painted on hardboard. Then Chris and Andrew laid it out in a car park to see how it would look when eventually placed on the walls.
“I like the badger best I think, but I also love certain details like the tiny rabbit on the rear added just recently.”
As this is a working substation the decoration on the doors had to be carefully worked out so that they can still open easily.
Mr Bailey also explained that Chris was interested in decorating the walkway into the park from Greenbank Crescent, but local residents would have to agree to that.
Any future stages of the project will depend on more grant funding and the Friends are happy to apply for that for some other parts within the park itself, and hope to involve some younger children next time.
The work sits high above the valley and is visible from the A702 which passes along the park’s high eastern boundary just below the Braid Hills Hotel.
The Friends commissioned Chris, knowing that he had already created a Robert Louis Stevenson (RLS) based mural in the Colinton Tunnel. There are also links to RLS here with Fly Walk where RLS travelled between his home in Swanston into the city.
Chris added: “The Friends liked the community aspect of it. In the tunnel we worked with primary school children and also with some teenagers. We have aspirations to do more here, but wanted to start with a bang and show the quality of what we would like to make, so this mural was made along with the Advanced Higher pupils at Firrhill.
“I had worked with them previously and the teachers know I am a “benevolent hirer” who will come and get the best out of the kids. Tracy Graham, Head of Expressive Arts at Firrhill High School, basically doesn’t quite know I managed to get three months of work out of the kids in three days.”
HIGH ENERGY
He continued: “We were there for a good time, not a long time. Professional drive and energy and being serious about having fun is one of my things.
“I have always lived in the Southside, starting in Currie and Colinton, so a lot of the areas i am changing are local to me.
“I think what I really do is bring soul to places, and this is a beautiful park, but they had allowed this building to become dilapidated. Then they point at the kids and say its their fault. But I have to ask what have they done for 40 years?”
The Friends asked Chris to do some ”blue sky” thinking before the project began. He believes the park
I have always lived in the Southside, starting in Currie and Colinton, so a lot of the areas I am changing are local to me
could become an attraction in itself with a walk along the valley floor. But he said : “The entrance from Oxgangs should be changed to become more inviting like the one at the Morningside end. There is another building there which is covered in graffiti. This park should have theatre and it should have soul.”
Chris not only directed and designed the hugely popular Colinton Tunnel, he also decorated a four feet tall hare for the Big Hare Trail which was sold to raise funds for Leuchie House in East Lothian.
The eleven sculptures were sold and raised
£115,000 for the tenth anniversary of the independent charity which provides respite care for those with neurological conditions.
Chris’s hare called Hare Tae Golf raised £22,000 of that total.
He has almost completed a project for the 150th anniversary of Reading Football Club. He is creating a visual fan mural with portraits of the Royals football supporters on the outside of the West Upper Stand at the Madejski Stadium. Fans sent photos for Chris to work from creating an individual portrait.
Chris said he may also have another tunnel in his future, but we shall have to wait and see when those plans are further down the track.