Skate park life on Corsham shelter wall (From Wiltshire Times)

Skate park life on Corsham shelter wall

8:00am Saturday 18th December 2010 in Latest News By Mike Wilkinson, Senior Reporter

Budding artist Dean McTaggart has created a mural for the shelter at the Springfield skate park in Corsham.

The 23-year-old, from Broadmead, in Corsham, was commissioned by Corsham Town Council to create the mural for the shelter which is popular with local youths. It had previously been covered in graffiti.

Mr McTaggart, who is a former pupil of The Corsham School, said: “I have always drawn and there was an idea going around that they wanted to do something with the shelter and they gave the job to me.

“It had been covered in graffiti and some offensive writing had appeared so they thought that if children were going to use it, it should have something nicer on it.

“The youngsters watched me create it over six weeks and there was a lot of interest in seeing it develop.

“I also had a lot of dog walkers ask me about it. I spent four or five days there every week and finally completed it in July.”

The project was completed using emulsion paint, acrylics and spray paint. The painting depicts children playing on a hill and Springfield Park was used as the inspiration for the design.

Mr McTaggart, who has studied art and design and fine art, at Wiltshire College Chippenham, said: “It was my first proper illustration project and since then I have been asked to do quite a few other jobs because people heard about the skate park.

“I really enjoyed doing it and I think it looks great. I was very happy with the end product.”

Wiltshire Cllr Peter Davis, who represents Corsham Town ward, said: “It is great that not only is Dean a youngster but he is also a Corsham resident.

“It is wonderful that we are encouraging young, local talent to produce artwork such as this.

“He came very well recommended to us and we felt that he was very capable of doing the work and we have since had many good reports about just how good a job he has done. Hopefully, it will continue to act as a deterrent to stop graffiti at the skate park.”