WALL murals are one of the oldest art forms, dating back at least 40,000 years.
“There seems to be an intrinsic need for humans to leave their marks on walls and elsewhere to show they have been there - and to say something about themselves or the world around them,” says Colin Neville.
“If done well, mural art has the power to lift our spirits, make us think, revitalise a dull place, and showcase the talents of the artist or artists involved.
"And perhaps most important, it makes visual art accessible; it takes art off a pedestal and into everyday lives.”
In his new book, Bradford District Murals, Colin celebrates local murals from the 1920s onwards.
Featured in 120 colour illustrations from 50 locations across the district, they highlight communities, creatives, sport, politics, war, peace, schools and social change.
The slogan ‘It’s A Mean Old Scene’ appeared on a wall in All Saints Road, Little Horton, in the late 1960s.
“Over time it became regarded in an almost iconic way. It still features on T-shirts and in music lyrics,” says Colin, who promotes local artists past and present on his website, notjusthockney.info.
Also featured is the striking mural on the Bradford Playhouse building celebrating the centenary of the Independent Labour Party, founded in the city in 1893.
Painted by artist Tom Cousins, it is on the Peace Museum’s heritage trail, celebrating Bradford’s rich social history.
In the entrance of the Morrisons supermarket in Girlington are three murals titled Warp and Weft, created in 2000 by Ilkley artist Graeme Wilson.
The three panels depict Bradford architecture and industries.
When plans for a new shopping centre in Bradford city centre were put on hold, protest murals appeared at the site know locally as ‘The Hole’.
Bright hoardings were erected to brighten up the space, and there were murals by street artists Fin DAC and Mohammed Ali, whose ‘Life in the Wall’ design covered more than 900 metres and was said to be UK’s longest wall mural at the time.
Nearby, in Little Germany, the face of David Hockney gazes from a 16ft by 12ft portrait by Bingley nail artist Marcus Levine.
Commissioned for Hockney’s 80th birthday, it took Marcus 15 months to complete, using 250 kilos of nails, each hammered individually into position.
Shutters on a parade of shops in Holme Wood were this year transformed into colourful artworks representing memories of residents.
Artists Rota One and Cortisol Kid spent two weeks spray painting the murals, helped by local volunteers.
It’s one of several street art projects from partnerships between Bradford Council and local artists celebrating communities as the pandemic eases.
Last year artwork measuring 80 metres long was unveiled on Darley Street, around the former Marks & Spencer building - a collaboration between Bradford 2025, Bradford BID and Bradford Markets.
Designed by Bradford artist Xanthe Bonsall, it covered the hoarding around the former department store before it was demolished to make way for the new Darley Street Market.
The design was inspired by Bradford landmarks including the Alhambra and brutalist high rise High Point.
In 2016 Jeff Bennett from Windhill Community Centre launched the ‘Active Windows’ project to brighten the exterior of Shipley’s former Carnegie Library building.
What began as a few people painting murals is now an ongoing project - a changing parade of murals by artists and community groups on the still empty building.
Marcus Rashford, Emma Raducanu and Usain Bolt are among the sports stars depicted on inspiring murals painted by local children and teenagers at Springfield Youth Centre on Thorpe Edge.
Says Colin: “Although murals have been traditionally painted directly onto walls, this survey also showcases murals created with mosaics and nails and painted onto paper, canvas, board or metal, then secured onto walls, hoardings and other frameworks.
"The murals have stood the test of time, some nearly 100 years old, and served a temporary purpose - to brighten our lives or inform us in some way.”
Colin’s book starts with murals at Keighley Library created in 1929 by sculptor and painter Alex Smith, depicting scenes from Charles Kingsley’s Westward Ho! and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.
In 1948 Smith painted more murals for the library. They were displayed until the 1970s, when modernisation work hid them behind false ceilings. Discovered in 2006 during a refurbishment, they’re on view at the library today.
At the end of the book is a poignant mural in memory of Star Hobson. Created by local artist Adrian Smith, it was unveiled in May, on what would have been Star’s third birthday, in the children’s play area at Roberts Park, Saltaire.
A pair of hands holds a baby’s hands with the caption ‘Forever Our Girl’.
Bradford’s newly-crowned title of UK City of Culture 2025 will, says Colin, inspire more murals: “I think we can expect to see more appearing across the district the closer we get to 2025.
"Bring it on. I love this form of community art. It livens up the place and is a showcase for the many talented artists who live locally.”
Colin plans to continue recording new murals, with a view to producing a second edition of his book in time for Bradford’s City of Culture year in 2025.
l Bradford District Murals is available, priced £9, from notjusthockney.info. Proceeds go to the Silsden Town Hall appeal.
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