Stunning wildlife murals unveiled on Beverley bridge in a bid to tackle graffiti

Stunning new murals featuring local wildlife have been unveiled under a Beverley bridge in a bid to prevent graffiti. 

Colourful scenes featuring birds, fish and flowers have been painted on either side of the two piers underneath Beverley Beck Bridge, a site which has become a hotspot for unwanted graffiti. 

The four murals also feature silhouettes of people, together with an image of the Syntan, the historic barge on Beverley Beck which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. 

Beverley artist Emma Garness was commissioned to create the murals by the East Riding Community Safety Partnership - made up of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s anti-social behaviour team and volunteer organisation Community VISION. 

The project was funded by the Office of the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner. 

The artwork has been introduced as the bridge piers had become a regular target for vandals, with graffiti making the area feel unpleasant and unsafe. 

The project aims to improve the area and make it a more attractive place for the community. 

Nigel Brignall, manager of the council’s anti-social behaviour team, said: “This is a local beauty spot and is very popular with walkers, but the graffiti problem had made it unpleasant and intimidating, especially at night. 

“But now I’m delighted with these murals. They reflect the natural surroundings and have really improved the look of this area.” 

Devan Witter BEM, BOOST Training and FraudWatch project coordinator for Community VISION, said: “We’re really pleased with the results of this community arts project. 

“Working together with Emma Garness and the council, we’ve been able to tackle this graffiti issue and brighten up the local area. 

“The positive comments so far have been fantastic.” 

Freelance artist Emma Garness had already worked on a number of community murals across the East Riding, and has worked with Community VISION. 

She said: “Everyone has been so grateful and amazed at how the murals have changed how they feel for the better on their route to work or school.  

“The four murals took me 23 days to paint and I was very conscious of how popular this area is with walkers, families, commuters and anglers, and there is so much local wildlife that I wanted to capture in the artwork. 

“There are so many layers in the design that are connected with the local community and I really hope it complements the local area. 

“A link to the local community I’m very pleased with is the paintings of the barn owl and the butterflies. I was given permission to use images of local wildlife here at the beck that two local photographers had taken. 

“And Syntan the barge, which is significant to Beverley Beck’s history, takes pride of place amongst a collage of the community.”