Wolverhampton subway brightened up with multi-coloured mural

Artist Steve ‘Graffoflarge’ Edwards has just finished a massive, multi-coloured mural on the walls of the sunken Chapel Ash Island on Wolverhampton Ring Road, funded by the city council.

It took him three days but the work had to be spread over two weeks as the 45-year-old dodged the downpours.

Steve, from Castlecroft, used masonry paint which normally can only be used when the temperature is in double digits – but he employed a new technique, dubbed line art, where none of the different colours touch.

It took him a day to paint the black backcloth on the walls and a further two days to complete the mural – that is around three metres high and about 400 metres long – using a brush instead of a paint spray.

He explained: “When the rain stopped I had to grab the bull by the horns and make the most of the dry spells.

"I worked as quickly as possible. I didn’t stop for food and kept at it for six hours without so much as a pause.

“The wall was so big and the budget was low.

“The council approached me asking if I had any ideas how to help with the regeneration of the site. I suggested that it would be a great venue for local artists and musicians to hold small events which would showcase street art, music, dance productions and even food.

“I chose to paint a simple sunrise made up of lines to keep costs and labour down. The island has been an ongoing project to improve the gateway to the city and deter anti-social behaviour.”

Steve has other works dotted around the city which include the biggest Wolf in Wolves painted for international refugee week, still on display at The Light House, a logo for the Lotus Sanctuary in Cleveland Street and advertising for Banks’s Brewery.

He also presents graffiti workshops for primary school children at the Newhampton Arts Centre in Dunkley Street.

Steve can be contacted through his website graffoflarge.com for future projects.