Images including the Titanic are transforming Waterloo eyesore on the waterfront into giant piece of art

Jun 9 2011 by Lyndsay Young, Crosby Herald

ARTWORK has started on seven giant murals that will brighten up an eyesore along Waterloo’s marina.

The giant piece of art, depicting the Titanic, has been created on the side of the first of seven cocoa sheds at the site.

It also shows the Five Lamps memorial and the old overhead railway.

They will depict historical icons and landmarks linked to the area from the 20th century.

The murals are being designed by art graduate Kathryn Wilson, from Waterloo, and Natalie McGahan, a muralist from St Helens.

A free exhibition of the artwork for the project will be held at Crosby Library from Monday, June 13, to Monday, July 11, and the artists will attend special open days to answer questions.

Thousands of people will see the mural when visiting Antony Gormley’s Iron Men statues.

Artist Kathryn, a former Holy Family High School pupil, said: “Antony Gormley has been one of my favourite artists since I saw his installation ‘The Field’ in the Tate when I was 11 years old. It really moved me and made me realise the impact art can have on the viewer.”

The public highlighted that something should be done to improve the look of the sheds when Sefton Council asked how it should spend a £25k Participatory Budget it had available in 2010.

Mayor of Sefton, Church ward councillor Paul Cummins said: “This is a chance to do something we hope will make a lasting difference and help bring even more visitors into the area. The Gormley statues are a major attraction but the setting is hardly helped by the sheds and the way they look.

“We’re grateful to the shed owners – Sitos Commodities, who were delighted to help.”

The work is due to be completed by the end of July and Waterloo firm Parkside Decorating Services are helping the artists, who are using paint specially designed for the environment near the beach.