Brighton artist Pearl Bates has helped Southern Water to mark the completion of a three-year project to replace 35 miles of Victorian mains.
She won a commission to create a water-themed mural on the side of Clarkes Stationers in Bond Street, Brighton.
The work, featuring a mermaid and which she started before Christmas, is now complete.
It is intended, in part, to celebrate the end of Southern’s £15.5 million water mains replacement scheme under the streets of Brighton.
Pearl said: “It was such a pleasure to work on a painting that celebrates one of my favourite places – Brighton.
“The character of the mermaid sums up my feelings about the city really – beautiful, quirky, cheeky, sexy and fun.
“I was thrilled to win the competition but also a little daunted about doing something of this size on a wall which is all new territory for me.
“I normally work quite privately in my studio so it was an amazing experience to actually be out on the street while we were painting the mermaid.
“I hope people will enjoy it.”
Pearl received her £1,000 prize at the official mural completion ceremony on Thursday (12 August).
Those at the ceremony included the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Mary Mears, Southern Water’s director of communications Geoff Loader, city centre manager Soozie Campbell, and Martin Middleton from Artscape, an organisation that works with young offenders.
Members of Southern Water’s mains replacement team were also there.
Councillor Mears said: “We were so pleased to support this initiative.
“The work to replace the ageing water system was quite intrusive but to be able to offer this mural as a ‘thank you’ really helps to restore community spirit.
“It’s another gem – in fact a pearl – demonstrating the benefits of working in partnership with one another.”
Soozie Campbell said: “This is a great moment for Brighton’s business community as this piece of work represents many things.
“On the one hand it is part of the city’s strategy for stamping out unsightly tagging.
“It is also a great opportunity to mark the end of a successful project to replace antiquated Victorian pipes that would have led to ongoing water shortages every summer.
“And it is a beautiful piece of art that is so quintessentially Brighton.”
Geoff Loader said: “This mural is a lasting thank you to the people of the city for their patience during the work to improve Brighton’s water supply network.
“We would not have been able to do this without the support of residents, traders, transport groups and the city council.
“This close liaison work is now considered best practice in the industry.”
