Shawlands Art Trail

The sun shone, (most of the time) and the crowds were out in Shawlands at the weekend, I don’t think many were aware that it was the start of work on the Shawlands Art Trail, a project which kicked at the weekend, but it was great to see some familiar faces out with their paints adding colour to Shawlands Streets, I also got the chance to meet some artists I had never met before.

The project, organised by My Shawlands, has been assisted by Gaz Mac from SWG3’s Yardworks Project, as usual, Gaz’s skill in this type of project has been invaluable, he was much in evidence over the weekend supporting the artists.

The artists working this weekend were Chelsea Frew at the side of Betty Beans at Trefoil Avenue, Lightbody107 at Ruby Woo’s on Deanston Drive, while Molly Hankinson, Little Book Transfers, Bosscitytaio, BmoreSketchy and MackColours were all working on the wall at the side of the Shawlands Continental supermarket on Frankfort Street. Meanwhile, Jenny Booth, Jennie Bates and Cocozza Aesthetics were painting away inside the Shawlands Arcade. Barry the Cat, a regular artist in the area was to been seen painting with Sapian on the old bothy next to the Camphill Bowling Club on Langside Drive, their floral piece, full of colour certainly brightens up a dull old building.

As this is only the start of the project, which will eventually see around 35 separate works of art on the blank spaces of the neighbourhood, it will be exciting to see it fully develop.

Regular updates on the project can be found instagram.com/myshawlands

While I was in the area I took a chance to visit some of the murals already there, especially the 2 in the lane next to Jodandy’s Cafe one painted by Barry the Cat to commemorate the first Black international football player, Andrew Watson, who began his career in Glasgow. Directly across from Watson’s portrait, is a portrait by King Listy of Pelé, who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.

I then revisited the Park Lane Market where it was good to see some murals that had been added since my last visit, especially the one by London-based artist Louis Masai highlighting the plight of orangutans