When he was approached with the idea of creating a mural with the children of the art class, Paul was delighted to undertake such a project. Much of the appeal of the commission lay in the opportunity it gave to make a physical contribution to the community. The boys and girls were equally enthusiastic, especially as they would be ‘proper’ artists and mums and dads and friends would be able to view their handiwork.

The theme of the mural began as an exploration of historic places in Newtownards. Gradually the idea evolved into a bird’s eye view of the town. The colours of the mural were chosen by the children to reflect what living in Newtownards meant to them. They are predominantly bright and lively, evoking a feeling of the busy, bustling nature of their town.

Joint branch library manager Elizabeth Consiglia proclaimed herself delighted with the end-result:
The mural captures the essence of Newtownards – busy, industrious and a little hectic – just like the library. Taking a peek over at the mural now and again can have an uplifting effect – Its bright and cheerful colours will be appreciated by our clients for years to come

The mural is on view at the library during opening hours. If you haven’t seen it already, it’s worth a look to see how local children feel about their town.

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