Fraser Gray

Cardean Street Mural

Cardean Street Mural

We wanted to open up the inside by painting a scene of a Stobswell Close on the outside.
The Close, and important part of Stobswell life since the industrial revolution, is a place that functions as a connection between home, family, and the community.

The stairs act a visual reference something the residents of Stobwell will know well - the incline walking up Albert Street! Also can be seen as the area growing and improving with time - raising up.

The brush stroke (a nod to Dundee’s creative industries) shows the close at a different time of the day, changing the colours in the close. two women walk up the stairs. They are done with a simple graphic line, so people can see themselves in the image - something not possible if we went into more detail. The brush stroke also helps to make the image feel like more of a puzzle - so it takes a little more time to read, an important factor for an artwork that people with see day after day.

Injecting bright colour into the environment was one of the key objectives highlighted by the community consultation. The colours are derived from slightly saturating a palette Martin and Fraser made by referencing elements of the local area such as local shop fronts, building materials, and ofcourse using local closes’ and entry door colours.

Additional Stobswell Easter Eggs
The brush stroke also makes an S - S for Stobswell
The bottom floor window has a view of Baxter Park Pavilion
The ornament on the banister is a swan sitting on an acorn — a reference to ‘Swannie Ponds’