PAUL CURTIS ARTWORK
Red Rum Murals
Red Rum Southport Mural
The Red Rum mural is a street art tribute to the most famous race horse in the world, Red Rum.
The mural is 15 metres tall and 20 metres wide (300 square metres) - the biggest Paul has painted to date.
It was commissioned by The Sefton Borough of Culture Committee in March 2020. The mural is located at Marine Drive in Southport, Merseyside.
Red Rum will forever be tightly linked to Southport as it was here that he was stabled. Trainer, Ginger McCain, would put Rummy through his paces by taking him for a gallop along Southport Beach. It is this regular sight during the 1970's that Paul has tried to capture. Red Rum is galloping towards the viewer, right at the water's edge, with the spray and froth from the sea exploding in his wake.
Red Rum is the most successful Grand National horse ever. He holds the record for the most wins (three, 1973, 1974, and 1977) and runner up twice (1975 and 1976).
Links
Press Coverage
Horse & Hound
March 2020
Eclipse Magazine
April 2020
Explore Liverpool
March 2020
The Shrimpers and a Double Red Rum
Part of a large mural at Birkdale railway station, this Southport Beach scene is played out at Birkdale station. The idea. for the project came from @birkdalecivicsociety and was supported by @merseyrail
Many thanks to the residents and commuters of Birkdale, who were all positive about the mural. Passerbys have never offered so many coffees.
The Atkinson Gallery Red Rum
An exhibition about Red Rum - one of the world's most famous horses - was opened in the town where he trained.
He won the Grand National three times - in 1973, 1974 and 1977. A mural by Paul Curtis, best known for his street artwork The Liver Bird Wings, is also featured in The Atkinson Gallery in Southport. Aintree Racecourse historian Jane Clarke said the exhibit celebrated one of its "true local heroes".
Bought with a debilitating bone disease, he was restored to health under trainer Ginger McCain by the Southport seaside, where the sight of him racing across the sands "thrilled many a local resident", a spokesperson for The Atkinson said.
His rise to fame occurred at the same time the Aintree racecourse was put up for sale in the 1970s. Historian Reg Green previously said Red Rum did more than anyone to safeguard the Grand National and "put it back where it belongs - at the summit of sporting achievement". The horse became such a celebrity that he switched on the Blackpool Illuminations in 1977 and also appeared in the studio for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. When Red Rum died in 1995, his remains were buried at the winning post at Aintree Racecourse.
Ms Clarke said she had been "constantly warmed by the obvious affection Southport people in particular still have for this great horse", adding that many had provided memorabilia for the exhibit.
This is Paul's 3rd Red Rum mural in Southport, but it is the first time his art has been displayed in a public gallery. This is a big step for Paul and huge thanks to The Atkinson for showing confidence in him as an artist. It's massively appreciated.
The image is based on several photographs, but there's no single photograph that exists which depicts the scene of this mural. The mural is based on the 1977 Grand National. This was Red Rum's final Grand National. He won ahead of the runner-up, Churchtown Boy (also depicted).
Red Rum Lines
The legendary Red Rum at the moment he completed his hatrick of Grand National wins in 1977. Southports most famous son. This mural was painted at The Bold Hotel.
An early mural painted back in 2020, this was Paul's first Red Rum mural in Southport. Since then there is now a growing collection of Red Rum murals across Southport, all honouring one of SouthPorts favourite race horses.