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Sheppey’s controversial moody mermaid mural is to get some company.
Artist Richard Jeferies has been commissioned by Swale council to create a 210ft long painting along the seawall at Beachfields, Sheerness, from Beach Street to the amusement arcade.
Richard, who runs Squarecube Artisans from his home in James Street, Sheerness, said: “It will be a dynamic design which will also have community involvement.
“I want Islanders to join in the fun and make their mark by adding their name to the design.”
The Seawall Mural paint-in will take place on Saturday, June 22, from 10am to 3pm.
The money has come from Swale’s Visitor Economy Framework and is part of work being masterminded by Visit Swale.
Dad-of-four Richard, 55, added: “Like it or loathe it, Dean Tweedy’s mermaid got people talking about art. In that way, it has been a success.
"But this design will be quite different. There won’t be any mermaids, just a beach scene with happy children and the names of Islanders attached to shells.”
He started making test panels last week but is keeping the final design under wraps until he starts work. He said: “I want to keep it a surprise.”
The last time people had a similar chance to take part in an art project this large was nearly 20 years ago when customised tiles were put along the edge of the grass by the amusement arcade. The tiles are still there for visitors to read.
Richard said: “I hope the mural will be a similar fun project.”
Janet Deadman, who runs the ice cream kiosk at the top of Beachfields, said: “I am really looking forward to this. It will brighten up that concrete wall no end. It is about time we had a splash of colour.”
Mr Tweedy, then of Milton Regis-based Marvellous Murals, unveiled his mermaid in August, 2015.
Matt Brown, who now chairs Sheerness Town Council, said at the time it looked like a “terrorist mermaid.”
Richard recently staged Chalk Marks on the promenade at Minster Leas and repainted the ship’s figurehead in Marine Parade, Sheerness.
He has an exhibition of his work, called 55, at the Sheppey Gateway in Sheerness High Street until the end of the month.
He said: “I have covered the wall with extracts from my sketch books. It shows my scribblings and explains my thinking.”
Today (Sunday) he is taking part in Artists In The Wood at Oare Gunpowder Mill near Faversham from 10am to 4pm.
