Most of us take no notice of the blank walls we pass by. But for Chester-based muralist Graham Boyd, those empty expanses – the bigger the better – are sheer potential. Where we see an unexceptional wall, Graham's brain fizzes with ideas to bring it to life. His passion for creating something from nothing was put to the test with an inspired commission by West Cheshire and Chester Council to create 17 murals for two huge carpark stairwells at Chester’s new Northgate Market and Food Hall. The vibrant artwork, which sometimes rises the height of two floors, represents the city’s numerous parades as well as key scenes from its history.
Graham of bespoke murals and artwork business Absolutely Design, says: 'Murals are relatable and empowering, especially if they are on a grand scale, so the commission to do two seven-level stairwells was a dream. As a Cestrian for 30 years, this was also an opportunity to bring my insider’s enjoyment of Chester and its community to life through colour and design. No one expects art in stairwells and I am hoping new visitors will not only enjoy the murals but are inspired, even before they leave the carpark, to delve deeper into the city’s past and future.”
Graham, who co-founded Evoke Creative, a Chester-based design and manufacturing company, set up Absolutely Design in 2018 and his murals can be found on the walls of charities, businesses and public spaces throughout the region. Chester Cathedral’s current building programme has scaffolding covered with protective sheeting that features his artwork playfully showing builders working on its ancient façade.
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Chester’s Parade murals
Graham was given almost free rein in his creative designs of contemporary Chester’s numerous parades. Using his simplified design style he captures the humanity, joy and humour of the parades, showing dynamic, often life-size figures, embracing community life through flag waving, dancing and drumming. The striking designs play with space, so visitors can find themselves following the colourful Chinese New Year Dragon down the stairs or suddenly immersed in the madcap fun of the Raft Race as contestants paddle furiously towards victory. The awesome size of the Midsummer Watch Parade’s giants is captured with a full-size giant and the vigorous drummers that accompany cleverly evoke the noise and excitement of the festival.
All the designs are fitted around lights, bannisters and awkward stairwell spaces, but from the dramatic Mystery Play scene featuring the devil and the bishop, to the colour, drama and exuberance of the Pride Festival, the space constrictions act to enhance and energise the murals.
Chester’s history and culture
Chester's location on the River Dee, and its border with Wales, have made it a prize for centuries. From the battles between the Saxon and Vikings to the Civil War, via images of the Romans, Norman, Medieval and Tudor periods, Absolutely Design’s images reflect this rich and often brutal history. Each mural is supported with short but interesting historical boards written by Alan Wight of Cascade Productions for West Cheshire and Chester Council.
Chester’s Civil War history is strikingly depicted. Here menacing, life-size Parliamentarian pikemen descend the stairs with a forest of pikes and flashing blades, braced for an attack. The information boards remind visitors that Chester fell to Parliamentarian forces in 1646 and that by going to Phoenix Tower on the City Walls, they can see for themselves where Charles I watched the defeat of his army.
Raising a smile
Graham says: 'On one level, all the figures I create are generic and rarely based on specific people unless requested. But whether it is in the pictures of parades or in the black humour of war, I always try and pick out little personal details. It is a bit like people watching – giving something interesting or quirky for the eye to find in the murals. As part of this process, I also like to inject playfulness and humour.
'I enjoyed painting the brave little duck floating mischievously away from paddlers in the Raft Race mural and the plucky puppy in the Pride Parade wearing a rakish rainbow tutu. Whether it is the Bishop scaring away the red-faced Devil in the Mystery Plays mural or the larger-than-life puppets swooping in to steal the cakes from the Winter Watch – humour transcends barriers of language and knowledge.'
