Street Art Trail

Princess Taisie, daughter of King Dorm of Rathlin Island, was betrothed to Congal, future High King of Ireland. The King of Norway heard of her beauty & went to claim her as his wife. He arrived during the wedding, leading to battle which he lost. Glentaisie, where Ballycastle lies, is said to be land that King Dorm gifted the newlyweds. This piece depicts Princess Taisie relaxing in the glen. The design is based on a Feis na nGleann banner design from 1904 & the artist imagined her listening to her ladies playing music.

The Artist - FRIZ

FRIZ is a Northern Ireland based artist. Her work explores history, myths & folklore that shapes the cultural identity of a place. It is a study of who we are; where we come from & our connection to the natural world. Follow on Instagram here or website here.

As well as traditional holidaymakers, many are drawn to Portrush for its maritime sports culture. Surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding all flourish here, with the area home to high quality surf board & canoe makers. Surfing & skate culture is linked to other alternative, creative opportunities for people involved in caring for the coastal environment & promoting wellbeing benefits of the outdoors. There is also overlap with the thriving local arts & music scene.
 

The Artist - Aches

Fast gaining international attention, Aches is a Dublin-based artist specialising in large scale murals. Graduating in Visual Communications from the National College of Art & Design, Aches began to fuse his knowledge of Graphic Design & Graffiti. His work focuses heavily on the digital world, using aspects such as additive colour theory & digital glitches. Other artists were impressed he didn’t use a grid to mark out the piece, but painted freehand. Follow Aches on Instagram here.

This striking piece which can be seen the whole way along the seafront depicts a Seahawk, also known as an Osprey. Seahawks were once common in this area but were hunted to near extinction in the 19th century. The are currently seen on migration paths in spring and autumn. It is hoped they will begin to breed again locally in the near future. The Seahawks is also the nickname of the local football club, Portstewart FC.
 

The Artist - Dan Leo

London born, Ireland based artist Dan Leo is widely known for his colourful stylised depictions of birds and animals. He draws inspiration from nature and combines this with a love of 90s cartoons and American sports logos. Follow on Instagram here or visit his website here.

The embracing figures symbolise love, blues represent the shifting boundary between fresh water & sea water in the estuary. The upper half of the two figures shifts slightly right, hinting at past conflicts & divisions. The three hands form a triangular shape, based on a beautiful bronze Iron Age disc dredged from the river. The ferns reference “nook of ferns” after which Coleraine is named. The Methodist church who own the wall trusted the artist & the work was warmly received.

The Artist - EMIC

Belfast based street artist EMIC has been active since 2012. His work has evolved from paper paste-ups of deconstructed architure into large-scale hand-painted murals, combining human & natural forms to create stories. People & place are at the core of his work to represent the unique identity of each location. EMIC is curator for 'Hit the North' street art festival, co-founded the loft collective & is a member of Vault Artist Studios. Throughout his career he has organised events & exhibitions contributing to the development of the street art scene in Belfast, now a hotbed for contemporary urban art, in contrast to its historical murals. Follow on Instagram here or website here.

Limavady is where the internationally renowned song Danny Boy was born. The last Irish harper to play in the traditional bardic style is buried close by. This colourful piece draws on Limavady’s wide musical heritage. Claire was happy to meet some local buskers while painting this piece. One of the buskers favourite spots for performing just got better.

The Artist - Claire Prouvost

Claire Prouvost is a French artist, currently based in Dublin. She is known for her strong use of colour and shapes, painting playful characters inspired by the cubist art movement. Follow her on Instagram here or visit her website here. 

One of our biggest pieces in the project, this wall has attracted much positive attention from media & the public. This piece celebrates the importance of agricultural markets in the development & history of Ballymoney. It also embraces & reclaims the nickname “cow town” with a portrait of a beautifully defiant cow. The cow depicted is a Kerry Blue, a rare breed of dairy cattle, native to Ireland.

The Artist - Irony

Irony is a London-based artist recognised widely as one of the most talented street artists around. They specialise in large scale photo-realistic work with a sense of depth & drama. They are also known for portraiture & animal paintings. Follow them on Instagram here.