Artist Dave’s Meadowhall doodles here to stay

DOODLER Dave Draws included a host of historical Rotherham landmarks — and a nod to the future — in his black-and-white tribute to the town.

One forms an overhead views of Sheffield and the other a similar take on South Yorkshire.

The distinctive facade of Wentworth Woodhouse and the stately, rising structure of Rotherham Minster make the cut, as do the more recent additions of Magna and the New York Stadium.

The huge Steel Man sculpture, which is earmarked for the Kimberworth hillside overlooking the Don Valley, is also included.

Dave’s artwork, which is all completed with special paint markers, is dotted with logos and other familar touches like a Millers scarf and a white rose.

The artist has been lined up for a community art course at Meadowhall, starting on March 27, and said it was when he visited the centre to discuss the classes that the idea of the murals had come up.

Many of the locations featured in the map masterpieces were chosen by Meadowhall shoppers through social media.

“Plenty of people came past and asked what I was doing and how long it was going to take and looking what places they could find on there,” he said.

The massive murals can be found in two corridors — one above the other — in the arm of the shopping centre leading to Marks & Spencer.

They will be in place until further notice.

“I would like it if they were there for some time as it’s a good advert for my work and they were pretty blank walls before,” he said.

Busy Dave, who started off drawing animals and caricatures of people before finding his niche with buildings, is working in Manchester, Prague and London over the next few weeks.

But he will be back at Meadowhall at the end of the month for public sessions where people of all abilities will be encouraged to draw their own maps.

“It doesn’t matter if they can draw or not,” Dave said. “It could include their house or their favourite shops —  what’s important is it’s a personal to them.”

The first of Meadowhall’s The Sessions community classes — which range from doodling and gin tasting to soap making and calligraphy — begins on March 26 and features ukelele lessons.

For details of the courses and how to book visit www.meadowhall.co.uk/sessions.