Waterfront mural celebrates Liverpool culture
A new 130-ft mural celebrating Liverpool culture has been unveiled on the city’s world-famous waterfront.
Artist Joseph Venning has created the giant artwork on a 40metre long, two metre high stretch of wall near ACC Liverpool and the Pullman hotel.
The work, developed by ACC Liverpool and dot-art and funded by Liverpool BID Company through its arts and culture fund, highlights key figures across five themes – music, sport, comedy, drama and visual arts.
Inspired by Sir Peter Blake’s seminal Sgt Pepper album cover, it features famous faces and names from three centuries of culture, from painter George Stubbs – whose tercentenary is marked this year – to current screen stars Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham.
The mural also includes the Fab Four, comedians like Sir Ken Dodd, John Bishop, Arthur Askey and Paul O’Grady’s Lily Savage, musicians The La’s and Holly Johnson, writer Frank Cottrell Boyce and Beryl Bainbridge, sportsmen and women like Beth Tweddle, John Conteh and Natasha Jonas, and key art installations and spectaculars like Superlambanana, Antony Gormley’s Another Place, Sir Peter Blake’s Dazzle Ferry and Royal de Luxe’s giants.
Above: A slideshow of images of the mural. Top: Artist Joe Venning in front of the mural. Photos by Pete Carr.
Venning studied at the Chelsea college of art in London, training as a sculptor and producing experimental multi-media installations before turning his attention exclusively to painting.
Last summer he worked with Manchester United and Bee in the City to create two giant bee sculptures which went on to raise almost £50,000 for charity after being displayed.
Speaking about the new Liverpool mural he said: “The idea of this design was to create a wall that is a celebration of Liverpudlians. It highlights diverse achievements in various fields, to both visitors to the city and locals alike; hopefully inspiring them to think 'If they can do it, so can I.
“Highlights of the painting process include being tapped on the shoulder by Natasha Jonas to thank me for including her, and discovering, courtesy of Anne, Lady Dodd, that I had placed Ken Dodd between one of his key influences, Arthur Askey, and Paul O’Grady, who always credited Ken as one of his heroes!”
Above: Anne, Lady Dodd with the mural of Sir Ken Dodd and other Liverpool comedy stars. Photo by Pete Carr
Gemma McLoughlin, executive assistant, projects at ACC Liverpool, said: “It’s a priority for us to ensure the ACC Liverpool campus adds value to our local community by promoting happiness and wellbeing, with art firmly at the core. We developed the idea for a mural that celebrated our city and its people to enrich the urban space.
“We were thrilled when our application for arts and culture funding was successful, allowing us to work with local, independent gallery dot-art and artist Joe Venning on the installation.”
Lucy Byrne from dot-art said: “Joe was the perfect artist for this mural and has turned a nondescript wall into an inspiring cultural welcome to the ACC site.”
And Liverpool BID’s chief executive Bill Addy added: “We’re delighted to be able to support this incredible work. It’s a fitting tribute to the cultural talent that has put Liverpool on the map and makes life here as rich, warm and entertaining as it is.”