PAUL CURTIS ARTWORK
School Murals
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Beatrix Meadow Mural
Is this the best school corridor in the world? I would have loved this in my school when I was young!
"Beatrix Meadows" is a large painted mural tribute to the brilliant Beatrix Potter's "Peter Rabbit" series. The idea was to transform a dull magnolia corridor in Anfield Primary School into a wonderful, bright fantasy world for the pupils.
Two themes run throughout the huge artwork. As well as the famous Beatrix Potter characters, the murals reflect the changing of the 4 seasons and the flora and fauna of the British countryside as it alters through the year. A total of 18 characters are included for the children to find.
There are 7 mural scenes depicted across the corridor: 1. The Winter scene. Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Mrs Tittlemouse doing an early spring clean. Pine trees, Snowdrops, Holly, Winter Aconite, Winter Heather.
2. The 1st Spring scene: Beatrix Potter watches over Beatrix Meadows where Peter Rabbit and Flopsy are tucking into some carrots. Cherry Blossom tree.
3. The 2nd Spring scene: Tom Cat plays with a ball of wool on a wheelbarrow, watched by a tweeting robin. Daffodils, Dandelions, Bluebells, Spring Starflowers.
4. The 3rd Spring scene: Mr Jeremy Fisher enjoying a lazy day, reading his newspaper by a cool, clear pond. Weeping Willow, Sedge Rushes.
5. The 1st Summer scene: Jemima Puddle-duck, Timmy Willie and Johnny Town Mouse enjoy a summer's day, surrounded by wildflowers. A cheeky, Peter Rabbit is hiding in the watering can. Foxgloves, Poppies, Violets, Strawberries, Gypsy Grass and Dandelions.
6. The 2nd Summer scene. Mr Tod goes on his daily promenade but should be cautious of the potholes! Diggory Diggory Delvet is working hard to fix the road, under the supervision of Tommy Brock the Badger. Elm Tree, foxgloves, dandelions.
7. The Autumn scene. Squirrel Nutkins and his friend are running around looking for autumn nuts and berries as an owl swoops overhead. Horse Chestnut Tree.
This was painted in the summer of 2020 and took 3-4 weeks in total. Anfield Primary School is located in the shadow of Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium.
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Harry Potter Mural
Harry Potter attended Anfield Primary School In Liverpool before he went to Hogworts. Well he didn't really, but the idea of this inspired a re-imagining of some of Liverpool's most iconic landmarks in Hogsmeade style. This massive mural adorns the canteen hall at Anfield Primary.
This was an epic two week project that includes the Liver Building, Royal Albert Dock, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, St Lukes "bombed-out" church, Liverpool Town Hall, Liverpool Castle, St Johns Beacon and of course, Anfield Primary School.
The kids loved it although a couple of them were a bit spooked by the brooding castle and tower.
Earth from Anfield
The whole wide world captured on the side of Anfield Primary School in Liverpool.
The earth is approximately 6 metres in diameter. It was a spot of good luck that the circumference matched up exactly with the curved window lintel.
The painting is in the school yard. The school has an international mix of children and hopefully the kids will be able to teach each other a little, pointing out which part of the world their families hail from.
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Sir David Attenborough Mural
This mural of David Attenborough was painted in 2020 by Paul Curtis. It can be found on the wall of a long corridor at Anfield Primary School in Liverpool. As well as celebrating everyone's favourite adopted grandfather, Sir David Attenborough, it is used to teach the children about both nature and art. The jungle is filled with animals such as tigers, monkeys, toucans and others birds. Some of them are hidden so that the kids can have some fun finding them all. The style of the painting pays tribute to the great, French artist, Henri Rousseau. It draws inspiration from some of his most famous pieces, such as "Tropical Storm with Tiger", "Apes in The Orange Grove" and "The Dream". The artist, Paul Curtis, is a big fan of Henri Rousseau and said, "This mural was great fun to work on, and I found it really interesting to try and emulate the style of one of the greats. Anfield Primary is a great school, and the kids must love coming here!"
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Athens vs Sparta
Back at Anfield primary again, this is for the year 5 and 6 class corridor depicting the great war between Athens and Sparta.
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Lowry fresco
1072 Matchstick Men, 9 dogs, 2 horses, 16 metres, 13 days, 8 Lowry scenes and 1 Rocket.
A couple of Easter Eggs to look out for: The Liver Bird Wings and the Peaky Blinders.
An epic Lowry mural which pays tribute to the great artist and also combines a celebration of the 1829 Rainhill Trials which of course, were won by George Stephenson's Rocket.
A double dose of stealth education for the kids at Anfield Primary School, Liverpool. The Rainhill trials were an important competition run from the 6 to 14 October 1829, to test George Stephenson's argument that locomotives would have the best motive power for the then nearly-completed Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR). Ten locomotives were entered, of which five were able to compete, running along a 1 mile (1.6 km) length of level track at Rainhill, in Lancashire.
Laurence Stephen Lowry RBA RA is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures, often referred to as "matchstick men".
A collection of his work is on display in The Lowry, a purpose-built art gallery on Salford Quays.
Smithy Squirel Mural
St Michael's In The Hamlet (SMITH - get it?) is a primary school in the Aigburth area of Liverpool, England. They hired artist, Paul Curtis, to transform a boring, concrete slab fence into something colourful and eye-catching that would greet the pupils every morning.
The school's mascot is Smithy the Squirrel. This is what the mural focused on. A mysterious green woodland path bordered by flowers popping with colour forms the background to the SMITH letters. The squirrel was added for some aesthetic interest but in truth, his inclusion helps balance the artwork - there were 8 panels to fill, so the 5 letters of SMITH could not sit centrally. I think you'll agree that it is a massive improvement on the old drab concrete.
Olivia Pratt Korbel Mural
It's been two years since we tragically lost 9-year-old, Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Tragically, Olivia was fatally shot when a gunman burst into her home in Liverpool during a chase that had nothing to do with her or her family.
Last year, I was invited to participate in the school's (St Margaret Marys) Pink Day. The day was a celebration and remembrance for Olivia on what would have been her 10th birthday.
I spoke to several year groups that day and worked together to create a design for a mural that celebrated togetherness and community. Some of the pupil's designs are shown.
Mount Pleasant Mural 1- London
LONDON'S BURNING!!!
A dramatic, bright and bold mural of The Great Fire of London was painted at Pleasant Street Primary School in Liverpool. This is likely to be the first of a series of murals at the school.
The painting is a tribute to Samuel Rolle's drawing of the disaster, the original is black and white, but I have gone all gun's blazing with the colour on this.
Mount Pleasant Mural 2- Mersey Ferry
The world famous Ferry crossing the Mersey.
I went a bit mad with the colours here, partly to make it a bit brighter for the kids at Pleasant Street School, partly to fit in with the Fire of London mural next to it and partly because it puts me outside my comfort zone!
Mount Pleasant Mural 3- Ancient Egypt
A time-lapse of a small Eqyptian-themed mural in a school in Liverpool's city centre (Pleasant Street), featuring the great pyramid as it would have looked back in the day (white with golden tip) and statues of the gods standing guard (Horus, Set and Isis).
The mural was painted by Liverpool artist, Paul Curtis in 2022 and forms one of 4 educational murals at the school.
Mount Pleasant Mural 4- Rome
Rome then and now. Mural 4 for Pleasant Street Primary School.
One of the best things about painting at school is that they always ask for something different to the usual stuff I get asked to paint. This allows me to use my imagination a bit!
Book Characters Mural
My traditional January trip to Anfield Road Primary School.
How many children's book characters can you spot?
This time I was working in the school's nursery to paint these 2 nursery rhyme/fairy tale murals for the teeny tiny pupils. My big HSE risk on this one was random toddlers wandering into my paint pots.
I now have 15 (Fifteen!!) murals at Anfield Primary, and some of them are epics which could easily be considered as 5 or 6 murals in one. One day I hope to put a video together of all of them. It must be my highest concentration of artwork anywhere 👨🎨
Ernest Shackleton Mural
The murals are inspired by Ernest Shackleton's heroic journey to save the crew of The Endurance. This one is meant to tell the story of the Heroic journey the men were forced to make.
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his brave crew set out to cross the frozen wastes of Antarctica, in what was to be the last expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Ahead of them lay unimaginable danger - ferocious seas, uncharted mountains, ice and snow.
New York Mural
Look at this epic painting, 20 metres long, celebrating 1930s New York and King Kong. Painted at Anfield Road Primary School in Liverpool by Paul Curtis