Ashford Unframed Mural Trail- iK ’ s top picks ...
KENTSTAYCATION
On The Mural Trail cont ...
Curtis Hylton & Proud Peacock
© Doug Gillen
Day 2 : Ashford
• Morning : Linger at Boys Hall for a seasonal , locally sourced breakfast . Enjoy a slow start on the patio before heading into Ashford .
• Late Morning : Explore Ashford ’ s street art scene , particularly around the town centre , St Mary ’ s Church and Park Mall . Don ’ t miss Mr Doodle ’ s biggest ever doodle , Concrete Cluster ( pictured above ), designed to contrast the brutal appearance of the building it has been drawn on and to make people happy . Mr Doodle has included biographical references to him growing up in the neighbourhood .
The Ashford Unframed Mural Trail is a showcase of street art in Ashford , featuring a series of murals created by local and international artists . These murals contribute to the town ’ s vibrant arts scene , adding colour , creativity and a sense of identity to its streets and public spaces - follow the trail towards Elwick place . @ ashfordunframed , @ mrdoodle
• Lunch : Grab a coffee at The Ashford Cinema , one of the installation points of Unframed , home to the piece , Love Film , by Chris Page , a homage to the unending search for quality on the silver screen . Enjoy a relaxed lunch at Matches . @ theashfordcinema , @ matchessportsbar _
• Afternoon : Walk from the Unframed art installations around Coachworks to the Ashford Designer Outlet for some shopping .
• Evening : Enjoy dinner at Curious Brewery , a working brewery offering its own beer and cider , local wines , spirits , fresh sharing dishes and pizza . @ curiousbrewery
• Drinks : End your day with a drink at Valerie ’ s , a stylish cocktail bar in Ashford town centre . @ valerieswinebar
Ashford Unframed Mural Trail- iK ’ s top picks ...
The Ashford Unframed Mural Festival , curated by Accent London and The London Mural Company , ran throughout April 2023 and saw 18 pieces of street art create a mural trail around the town centre . The majority of the pieces are still in situ and the trail map is still available either via www . loveashford . com , or to collect in person from Made in Ashford , Coachworks , The Ashford Gateway or the Low Key Taproom , so visitors and locals can explore the colourful and inspiring art trail of murals painted by local and international artists .
Flamboyant Fawn by Curtis Hylton , Bucksford Law , 2a Bank Street Nominated for Street Art Cities ’ prestigious ‘ Best Street Art in the World ’ award 2023 , this stunning large-scale artwork side of Bucksford Law , in
Hylton ’ s signature style , shows a proud young stag standing in brushland amidst autumnal ferns , curiously watching a nearby pheasant . In his depiction , UK and internationally renowned artist Curtis Hylton has created a sense of peacefulness and tranquillity , as if the viewer has stumbled upon a quiet moment in the natural world .
Concrete Cluster by Mr Doodle , Edinburgh Road Car Park , Park Street Ashford-based Mr Doodle ’ s signature style , now recognised across the world , provides a bold , bright and happy piece that juxtaposes the brutal appearance of the building while making people smile and feel positive .
Painted onto the four-storey Edinburgh Road Car Park , the mural covers 9.9 by 17.4 meters - that ’ s 32.5 by 57 feet ! “ This spot was bigger than anything I ’ ve ever painted on in my life ,” Mr Doodle explains . “ I thought it ’ d be good to challenge myself , and the wall appeared like a giant rectangle , so I decided to create my piece right in the centre , treating the wall like a giant sketchbook page .”
Proud Peacock by Curtis Hylton , Chloe Nails , 2d Bank Street A brand-new addition to the Ashford Unframed Mural Trail for 2024 , Proud Peacock , an eyecatching painting of a giant peacock on Bank Street has recently burst into life on the side of a nail shop . “ I ’ ve always had a massive love of nature , birds especially , and it ’ s a dream to work at a larger scale because it has more impact ,” Curtis says . “ It was a treat to be a part of the Unframed legacy last year with Flamboyant Fawn and to get the opportunity to come back and share another piece of art with the people of Ashford is super cool . The reaction has been very positive ; I was a bit sceptical because the sequels are never as good , but people have enjoyed it as much as the stag painting which is great to see .”
98 • www . insidekent . co . uk