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Art group frustrated Elizabeth II mural removed

Owen SennittNorfolk
News imageGreat Yarmouth Borough Council A mural depicting Queen Elizabeth II's likeness in 1952 and 2022, Great Yarmouth's Town Hall, a Union Jack symbol and a a picture of the train that brought her to Great Yarmouth in 1985. The paintings are on a purple background. Great Yarmouth Borough Council
The mural was displayed on the side of Great Yarmouth Railway Station before it was removed

A street art group has been left frustrated after its mural of Queen Elizabeth II at a railway station was painted over without warning, the group's co-founder said.

Ruben Cruz, from Reprezent Project, which creates public art across Norfolk, said Greater Anglia did not tell the group its artwork at Great Yarmouth's Railway Station would be removed.

The mural was created by artist Gnasher and the local community in 2022 to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee and the monarch's connection to the area.

Greater Anglia said the artwork was covered in dark paint recently because the wooden structure had become damaged after "repeated vandalism".

News imageReprezent Project A hoarding panel along the bottom of a railway station building is painted a dark grey colour and a man wearing a high-visibility jacket walks past the structure.Reprezent Project
The mural at the rail station has been painted over in recent days

Cruz, who co-founded Reprezent Project a decade ago and now creates public art across the county, said: "I am frustrated it was removed without our knowledge.

"The mural was an important part of the town's heritage and our mural art trail. We are very disappointed.

"Our volunteers invest a lot of time in these projects."

The mural was funded by the Norfolk Community Foundation and Arts Council England and took a number of days to complete.

News imageAndrew Turner/BBC Ruben Cruz, who has a beard, moustache and dark hair, wearing a cream hooded top and brown and cream chequered jacket. He is standing outside the brick building. Andrew Turner/BBC
Ruben Cruz says the group was not told the mural was going to be removed

Cruz said his team of volunteers had frequently returned to the site to restore the mural when it was damaged and the group would have fundraised to cover the cost of continuing to do this.

He believed his group's public murals in Great Yarmouth and Norwich can help reduce antisocial behaviour.

"These murals are all about creating pride in the place you live," Cruz said.

News imageReprezent Project A mural depicting the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 on the left and her portrait in 2022. They are painted against a purple background. Reprezent Project
The mural was made to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee

Greater Anglia said there had been "repeated" issues at the site and that the mural was repainted as part of wider works to improve the station.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "The mural outside Great Yarmouth station had been in place for a number of years and had deteriorated, including damage to the structure it was mounted on and repeated instances of vandalism."

Greater Anglia added it recognised "the contribution artwork makes to stations and the local community, and the role community art can play in improving the station environment".

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