Harpo @HarpoArt, has always loved drawing. He still has almost every sketchbook he has ever owned. A relentless traveller, Harpo took in multiple snowboarding seasons in Europe as well as time in Australia and New Zealand. Funding his lifestyle by picking up designing jobs wherever he could to keep moving which helped him to develop his own particular style.
After 4 years of travelling, Harpo decided to return to the UK. He came to Derbyshire to be near to family and found Wirksworth and its Arts Festival.
“I love that this beautiful town has no ugly graffiti anywhere!” says Harpo. A meeting with a gifted local musician, Paddy, brought Harpo to a local public site which in turn would inspire him to take on the largest project to date.
The tunnel is sited on a public footpath which leads from the top of The Dale, through Middlepeak Quarry and exits on to the Brassington Road in Wirksworth. It once serviced the quarry but has succumbed to disrepair and rust since the cessation of operations in the limestone quarry.
Harpo explains “When Paddy goes there to play guitar the effect of the tunnel sounds beautiful. As soon as I saw it I knew this was to be my place to showcase my spray paint skills.”
Inspired by the desolation of the quarry and intrigued with the idea of enhancing the environment by introducing urban style to a rural industrial location. The restoration aimed to bring art to this abandoned place making it more attractive for both visitors and residents. It was to be an intriguing piece in its own right, reflecting community memories and the wider environment.
Harpo engaged with local people to promote the project and to collect local stories, memories and history. to inform the piece. He acknowledges that it’s been an absolute pleasure to learn all the history of the area and that he couldn’t have done it without the knowledge and support from the community.
In particular thanks go to the sponsors:
- Wirksworth Arts Festival
- Foundation Derbyshire
- Wirksworth Town Council
- Derbyshire Dales District Council
- Derbyshire County Council
- Everyone who contributed to the GoFundMe appeal
The first stage involved preparing the whole surface and priming with red oxide paint. Working day and night, the enormity of the project became apparent. As the work progressed nature and architecture that form the environment and represent stories and memories begin to emerge in the cohesive design under the title of Rust to Buff.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped me create this piece. Special thanks to the Wirksworth Art Festival individuals that have been there every step of the way (you know who you are). I hope more people come to see the mural as it’s definitely part of my history here now, I love all the positivity and joy it brings to others. So I will take that in and continue this colourful adventure of mine and hopefully it will inspire others to be creative and get out into the world!”
Rust to Buff is included in the Wirksworth Arts Festival Art and Architecture Trail weekend, taking place on the 7th-8th September 2024. More information about coming to the Trail weekend can be found here.