The Painting's on the Wall

Throughout the summer term, a giant painting project unfolded in Cranhill Primary School, with pupils from all classes brandishing brushes and spray cans to create a stunning mural of the natural world! The eye-catching mural, which adorns the Stepps Road gable end of the school, is an impressive 3 metres high and 16 metres long!

The idea was born when Head Teacher Linda Taylor and ‘Out of the Box’ Art Worker Jo Love had a chat about the best use of a grant from Awards for All, intended for playground improvements.

In April, Jo and community education student Katie Tuff, began work with P6/5 who were the project’s organizing team. They came up with some initial ideas and consulted with other classes. It was decided to have six scenes, with theme names - Beyond the Sky, Jungle Life, Up the Mountains, Under the Ocean, On the Wing, and Park & Pond. Then classes voted on who would paint what!

Jo and Katie prepared the background colours, and then it was time for the real adventure to begin. Pupils took turns, working in small groups, having as many laughs with the goggles, rubber gloves and oversized shirts as the painting itself! They quickly learned that using a spray can is not as easy as it looks, and that the slightest wind adds to the challenge! First the orbiting planets appeared, then a jaguar skulking under vines, mountain goats, a leaping dolphin, a shy hedgehog, and by special request, the flightless trio of flamingo, penguin and ostrich! And of course much, much more…

On completion, Linda said:

“The children loved doing the painting. This is a great way to get involved with community workers and tap their talents for the benefit of our children.

Originally the mural was to be the backdrop for a traversing wall, however, the children didn’t want to risk the painting being spoiled so they are now helping to raise funds to find an alternative climbing structure.

It has been such a success that we are hoping to ask Jo to come back and help us with another project.

We are also planning to create a work on the theme of a Secret Garden in another area of the school grounds.”

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