Some walls ask for a logo. Others ask for a portrait. This one, on the side of Valkyrie Tattoo in Forfar, gave me the freedom to paint exactly what subject matter I love to paint: a Celtic and Nordic Valkyrie standing guard over an Angus town .
The Client
Valkyrie Tattoo is a tattoo studio in Forfar, Angus. The owners, Rachel and Chris, got in touch looking for a mural artist in Scotland to transform the side of their building. What made this commission special was the trust involved. They gave me free rein on the design, and in my experience that's where the strongest work comes from. When an artist is allowed to be themselves, it shows in the wall.
The Design
Given a studio in Scotland called Valkyrie Tattoo, the subject almost chose itself. I painted my own interpretation of a Valkyrie, deliberately blending Celtic and Nordic influences to reflect the way both cultures shaped Scotland's ancient story.
Woad arm decorations, a nod to the Celtic and Pictish tradition of body markings
Standing stones in the background, placing her firmly in the ancient landscape of Scotland
A stormy grey Scottish sky, giving the whole scene weight, mood and drama
The aim was a figure who looks like a guardian of the town. Looking at the finished wall, I think she does.
The Process
This was an 8-metre mural, which meant scaffolding was essential eventually to reach the full height of the wall safely. However I did about 70% of it off of ladders. Before any paint went on, the wall was patched and prepared by local firm Moy Decor, giving me a solid surface to work on, and the scaffolding was sorted with help from local contacts. From there it was a case of long hours of spray paint work, building up the figure, the stones and the sky layer by layer. I wanted to take my time getting her right, and it was worth every hour.
It was also technically speaking my first “gable end” mural, and the perfect size to start with: big enough to make a statement, small enough to get to grips with and subject matter squarely in my wheelhouse of ancient ancestry, Celtic, Pictish and Norse imagery.
The Result
The finished piece, which I called The Way of Wyrd, now stands on the side of Valkyrie Tattoo as a large-scale Celtic and Norse mural visible to everyone in Forfar. Throughout the project the support from local people was fantastic, and it's a reminder of what public art can do for a town when it's rooted in the history and mythology of the place.
If you're looking for a mural artist, graffiti artist or street artist in Scotland to bring a gable end, shop front or business wall to life with something distinctive, get in touch. I'd love to hear about your project.
Andy SGM
