Something fishy going on as graffiti artists paint shop wall mural

A FORGOTTEN corner of Exeter has been transformed into a vibrant work of art by a team of dedicated painters with a head for heights.

At the rear end of Fore Street, the Harbour Sports shop which backs onto Market Street and an old car park, now boasts a 50ft-high sea and sky-scape boasting laughing faces, King Neptune, mermaids, various fish, a massive trident — and all the colours in the rainbow.

It has given 17-strong team of Devon of graffiti artists — and one who travelled from Sheffield, to join in the fun — the chance to showcase their considerable skills.

The artists helped set up a scaffolding tower against the shop wall and over the weekend a mural featuring a surfer and an underwater scene was spray-painted onto the building. Surveying the almost finished work yesterday, Harbour Sports manager Marc Wood said: "I have to say it has exceeded all my expectations. It is really an excellent work of art and makes such a difference to what was a bit of an untidy back wall.

"I am really pleased with the result and what's more we have had nothing but praise for it from people passing by, shoppers, the police, even the addicts say it has made all the difference to the area.

"It really has brightened things up. We had always wanted to do something like this."

The team of painters were led by graffiti expert Steve Jones who has taken his work into schools and colleges.

He said: "We have been lucky with the weather. We started on Friday putting up the scaffolding, provided by Red Bull, and then we had to underseal the wall with masonry paint, which happily comes with a 15-year guarantee.

"Then Marc provided us with £350 worth of spray paint and off we went.

"Everybody taking part knew what the theme was and added their bits.

"We put forward an outline of what we were going to do to the city council, which granted planning permission.

"It hasn't been easy all the way, particularly at the very top because the scaffolding only went so high. After that it was painters on ropes which were attached to the only fixing point we had, the main chimney

"But it has come out remarkably well and it is great to see the community effort drawing people here to look and comment on the work. There has been a really friendly spirit.

"We wanted to raise awareness of street art and improve the tone of the area."