New mural to celebrate Rotherham's history

AN INTERNATIONAL artist has paid tribute to historic Rotherham with a huge mural.
Vicky Hilton with the finished mural on the wall of the 1915 Bar in the town centre. 171372Vicky Hilton with the finished mural on the wall of the 1915 Bar in the town centre. 171372
Vicky Hilton with the finished mural on the wall of the 1915 Bar in the town centre. 171372

The striking image was painted by Jo Peel, whose enormous works adorn buildings around Europe.

Her latest is painted on the side of the 1915 Bar and Bistro, on Domine Lane in the town centre, and features mill chimneys, mine workings and steelwork sheds.

The building was formerly Rotherham’s main post office - but the artwork appears on a newer wall, built in the 1990s when the venue was a bar.

Jo has left her mark on walls around the country - including London’s Southbank Centre and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - as well as working for clients like Chanel, Sheffield University and Leeds BID.

She also makes huge, stop motion films which take weeks to complete, painting each enormous cell on a wall and photographing them one by one.

The videos have become viral sensations, attracting award nominations and hundreds of thousands of views.

Community artist Vicky Hilton, who is also 1915’s events manager, said: “Jo has also done work in Poland and Croatia.

“She’s internationally-renowned, so people will travel here to see her work, which is great for the town. It’s an honour to have her work here.”

The mural features Rotherham landmarks like Boston Castle, Guest and Chrimes and the Chapel on the Bridge.

Vicky added: “It’s all about the industries and the people who made this town, because if you don’t know where you’ve come from, you can’t know where you’re going.

“Hopefully, it will remind people just how special Rotherham is.”

Visit www.jopeel.com for more information on her work.

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