There is an art uprising in Plymouth. And it's only going to get bigger.
In recent months public art murals have been appearing all over the city - and the people behind them have one thing in common: to make Plymouth more vibrant.
From murals at pubs and inside cafes, to those on the side of buildings, our city is more awash with colour than it ever has been before.
And there is so much more to come.
Here are all the murals in Plymouth that we want to shout about. Know of one you want us to add? Email sarah.waddington@reachplc.com.
Lord High Admiral, Stonehouse
This amazing mural currently in progress has been co-commissioned by urban beekeeping social enterprise, Pollenize and the pub itself.
The mural is part of artist Billy Finch's 'bee wellness art' project, and there are already many exciting mural ideas and small scale schemes in the pipeline to promote urban beekeeping, in a bid to boost Plymouth's bee population. You can find out more here.
Owen Finnie, from Pollenize said: "It is great to be engaged with the Stonehouse community, and amazing to watch all of the great projects and businesses that are popping up in the area.
"We are excited to work with the Lord High Admiral to be part of their programme to give local artists a rotating platform to showcase their talent in a space in the beer garden. We are the first to work with LHA, and have co-commissioned Billy to create a pollinator related mural which is available to see now."
Hanging Gardens, Barbican
This beautiful design has been created by Amie and Levi Rees-Williams at ALFA at nightclub and music venue Hanging Gardens, in Vauxhall Street.
The business launched at the beginning of April and already Amie said that they have been supported by other businesses.
Amie said: "The business has been so well received, I feel like lots of people are keen to work with us when they hear about our ethos."
Amie and Levi met while both studying at Plymouth College of Art in 2007 and have only recently taken the leap to collaborate their skills.
"When we discussed the model for ALFA it just clicked," said Amie. "We want to create beautiful designs in a relaxed and friendly environment, at affordable pricing. Nothing pretentious.”
Levi has a BA hons degree in Graphic communication with Typography from Plymouth University. Working as a Graphic Designer for DMS for over 6 years, mostly with print.
During this time he was building a career as a freelance designer, working for a number of local businesses.
Amie has a fine art and art history degree, as well as a diploma in fashion and textile design. Following university she launched a career in retail buying and merchandising.
Amie added: “Growing up as creatives in Plymouth, as youngsters we felt that the city was creatively stifled, but in recent years a lot of work has gone into ensuring that this is no longer the case.
"There are some great new independent businesses settling down here, often owned by local people just like us who felt that it was about time that we did something."
Cawfee, Union Street
Cawfee is a new coffee shop in Union Street and has recently had this stunning sunflower created for them by artist Billy Finch.
Billy has been working as an artist for many years, predominantly in the South West, and loves to create large-scale pieces.
Billy said: "Over the years I've had to take on jobs to support the art work, but the last year has led to me to becoming a full time artist, not sticking to one avenue, putting my hand to all aspects of art - although in my heart I love to create large-scale pieces.
"Plymouth has been good to me, providing many platforms for me to use my creativity, which I'm very thankful for. I feel it's hugely important for any city to tap into local artists, and Plymouth has a huge resource of creative talent that should, in my view, be supported and promoted in every way possible.
"Cities like Bristol and Brighton have done this, with great success, giving them a community full of vitality and colour."
Prime, Ebrington Street
This above mural and the next two below were all created by John Chan/Swolf. John is predominantly a portrait painter and muralist, and has been painting every day for the past 10 years.
His main focus is portraiture, but also environments as well as observations of life, documenting and capturing "fleeting moments" with his own twist.
The above mural can be found at Prime Cafe on Ebrington Street, who were looking for artwork to show. John approached them with a mural idea, and this was the result.
Big Ups Signs & Graphics, Vauxhall Street
The girl on the Barbican was a mural that John produced, with the permission of the wall owner of Big Ups Signs & Graphics to promote his joint exhibition held at studio 102 in the summer of 2018.
John is currently painting an indoor mural at Minerva streetwear, coffee and barber shop (see below), of Bill Murray and RZA & GZA (wu-tang clan), an adaptation from the 2002 short film Coffee and Cigarettes. John says it "pays homage to our love of hip hop" as Minerva and John get ready to launch a series of hip hop T-shirt collaborations.
Minerva, Bretonside
John said: "I definitely think Plymouth needs more murals; compared to other cities in the UK I feel Plymouth is so far behind.
"I don’t think that there are any barriers in place, but I feel like we need more organisations to open up the conversations between artist and the private wall owners or the council to grant permission, also the cost of materials and needs for artists, which could be funded by sponsors, fundraising, or money grants.
"It’s a lot of work behind the scenes, but I feel like it could be done. Plymouth could be the next city to hold an annual street art festival."
Dan Rowbotham, owner of Minerva, added: "We’ve wanted to collaborate with our talented friend John Chan for sometime. As soon as we moved store and started the new business venture it was a perfect time for us to hook up and get something special on the walls.
"The mural is still a work in progress, but the hip hop element is fitting with our street/lifestyle vibe we carry in store. We will be selling a series of limited T-shirts designed by John Chan, all of which will be hip hop-based, available in store and on our website in the coming weeks."
Nudge, Union Street
Social enterprise Nudge, which brings empty buildings back into use in Union Street, is in the business of making a difference, creatively or otherwise.
Nudge Community Builders is drawing up plans to spread “colour and joy” throughout once-notorious Union Street with special focus on the Palace Square patch, next to the disused theatre – an area frequented by the dispossessed and dipsomaniac.
The community benefit society has received £200,000 from the National Lottery-backed Creative Civic Change programme to brighten and enliven the Stonehouse thoroughfare.
Stonehouse, where an on-street launch event has already been held, is one of 14 communities across England set to be transformed as part of the £4million Creative Civic Change programme.
During the next three years, Nudge will take the lead and use “creativity to generate meaningful civic change in the area”. It is to employ a part-time worker on the project and is already in talks with city arts organisations.
Nudge will be working with artists and businesses, to create “voice, visibility and possibilities around complex issues” in constructive and empowering ways for individuals and spaces.
House near Royal William Yard
This vibrant passive house in Stonehouse has been painted by Plymouht graffiti artist, Roy Christie.
It can be found behind The Hutong cafe, near the entrance to Royal William Yard, and is definitely one of the most colourful houses in the city.
More of this please Plymouth.
Get in touch with sarah.waddington@reachplc.com with your thoughts.
