In Barnstaple, a river port town in North Devon, England, all eyes are on the town’s first mural. According to the artist Rich Thorne aka Richt, the painting is a tribute to the unique environment of his birthplace. The beautiful landscape with its special ecosystem has been recognized by UNESCO.
In 2016, this area of North Devon was awarded England’s first “biosphere status” by UNESCO because of its great natural beauty and the way in which its different industries work together to develop strategies towards communal sustainability. The Biosphere Reserve is mainly lowland farmland and includes many protected areas, including 63 Sites of Special Scientific Interest that protect habitats such as twig grassland deciduous forests.
The mural is part of a larger project initiated by Barnstaples Town Councillor Ricky Knight. An environmental advocate, UN award recipient and local teacher for over 30 years, Ricky speaks of his pride in supporting the importance of art in the area.
“There is a historic cultural tradition here in Barnstaple, from the poet John Gay to the Queen’s Theatre, a legacy wholeheartedly supported by the community. It is such a pleasure to have Richt, who was born and brought up here, return for Barnstaple’s first mural; an integral part of our rejuvenation and regeneration of the town centre in welcoming new visitors.” – Ricky Knight (Barnstaple Councilor)
The colorful mural reflects views and scenes from Barnstaple and wider North Devon. In the middle of the painting a girl rides her bike through the hilly landscape with a few windmills and the seaside in the background. On the left Richt painted an otter referring to the main character in ‘Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-life and Death in the Country of Two Rivers’ written in 1927 by Henry Williamson. The character has become local lore, with the Tarka Trail being named after him and a statue in his honor in Bideford. In addition, the mural depicts flowers and plants next to Barnstaple Long Bridge and the towns clocktower.
With a background in design, animation and 20 years worth of street pieces, Richt has developed a style that suits both a young and an older audience. His illustrative style looks fresh and vivid because of the bright colors and clear design. Abstracting the graffiti aesthetic and combining it with his love for the 60s and 70s comic book artists, Richt’s refined lines and bold palettes reference the work of greats such as cartoonist Jack Kirby.
In addition to the painting educational material has been developed with a SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) or Global Goals in mind. Together with his childhood friend Richt has created a tailor-made workshop that creatively enhances primary school childrens’ knowledge and awareness of the unique environment of ‘their’ biosphere reserve. Providing over 200 worksheets across six primary schools, they encourage conversations about culture and sustainable attitudes. Realizing the lasting value of the seaside and surrounding nature, Richt is looking for the new mural and the educational program to sustain a local conversation on the value of art in inspiring positive action and attitudes.
His mural, located on the blind wall on the side of the Bike Shed building on the Square facing Belle Meadow and Barum House, is an eye-catching addition to Barnstaple’s built environment.
Art in the public realm can be a great way to brighten things up, but can in the process also serve a broader purpose — as a great conversation starter for example. In partnering with primary schools such conversations can prove very effective in involving the people who will actually inherit the environments we leave behind. This is a community based social and political cue I would certainly love to see Street Art follow more often!
Rich Thorne / Richt: website | instagram
Barnstaple Town Council: website | instagram
Charlotte Pyatt: website | instagram
