Work has begun on new additions to the South Dunedin Street Art Trail, part of a festival celebrating and adding to public art in the suburb.
Yesterday, artist Guy Howard-Smith was working on his mural, which covers two walls of the Stevenson & Williams’ building at the intersection of Prince Albert Rd and Bellona St.
Draft designs of Mr Howard’s mural show two of the three Prince Albert Rd shopfronts painted in the likeness of their former occupants — a lawnmower shop and a butcher’s.
His favourite element of the mural was two red-billed gulls squabbling over a pile of hot chips, painted on the third shopfront.
"I haven’t talked to one person that hasn’t happened to; it’s a funny uniter of all New Zealanders," he said.
"Everybody can identify with seagulls stealing your chips, so that's been a popular one and it's been fun to paint as well."
Seashells are planned for the top of the building’s facade.
Facing Bellona St, the mural features a surfer with a scene of the street in the 1970s and 1980s.
The mural is one of eight featured in Ebb and Flow — a street art festival organised by the South Dunedin Street Art Trail Trust beginning on Saturday, featuring large-scale, live mural painting and street art workshops.
Work on murals was also under way in Rankeillor St by Lara Hattingh and in Carey Ave by Koryu Aoshima.
Mr Howard had been working on his mural for about two weeks and he estimated it would be complete in just over a week.
Some passers-by remembered the shops featured and had shared stories with Mr Howard of their time living in the area.
Broadly sunny weather had helped the artistic process, as had support from Stevenson & Williams, he said.
"There's been lots of positive feedback from all the public."
Mr Howard said the festival was a "fantastic initiative" and events like it brought South Dunedin to life.
Festival volunteer Rachel Elder said it was a great collaboration between organisers, artists and landlords.
An art show featuring work by the mural artists and others will be held in the Ana Teofilo Gallery from February 14 to 28.
