Maryport’s past, present and future have been brought to life with a trail of locally-inspired artwork.
Stunning images by town artist Alan Roper now appear on a host of projects completed as part of Cumberland Council’s £12 million regeneration work in Maryport, funded by the UK Government.
From the map boards created as part of the public realm improvements and the stage and bar at the Harbourside event space, to the inside of the Town Hall and the outside of Maryport Activity Centre, they are giving a colourful and cohesive theme to tie all of the projects together.
The first piece to be created was on the public toilets near the waterfront, giving them a ‘latrine’ and soldier wraparound in honour of Maryport’s Roman history. Then a giant canvas was created as part of a Taste of the Sea festival weekend which shows Senhouse Street from its Georgian past to the present day.
Now works have been put in place to showcase the sporty future of Maryport Activity Centre, while others combine the town’s musical and nautical prowess on the shipping containers on the new Harbourside event space.
Alan’s work also appears on the signage at the Shipping Brow Gallery and will feature inside the new Maritime Museum due to open in Christ Church this autumn, as well as the Carlton creative hub. Other local organisations have commissioned him too, like the Sea Cadets and Scouts, while one of the most prominent artworks is at The Settlement education and creative hub - which saw him featured on BBC Countryfile.
Many of the pieces have a hidden design - a giant M to denote Maryport - which is most obvious on the map boards created for the public realm improvements. Lamp post banners throughout the town centre also give a nod to the community’s favourite businesses and buildings.
Alan is a graphic designer, producing illustrative design solutions, who trained at Carlisle College and Newcastle University. He lives in Maryport and also teaches art. He said:
“It has been an honour to get involved with the regeneration work, for the town where I live.
“I try to make my work original by developing ideas which contain images within an image and use fine art painting methods to carry them out. Ideas can come to mind at any time- the deadlines must be met but originality should come through at all costs. There is a saying I have: fine art needs design, design needs fine art.
“I hope you enjoy looking at the work as much as I have enjoyed doing it.”
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer added:
“We wanted a theme which ran through all of the regeneration projects to really make them stand out as pieces of public art as well as brilliant facilities and Alan has done this perfectly. The trail of colourful creations has become a landmark in itself. Go and have a wander and see what you can spot as you explore all that Maryport has to offer.”