London-based ATM is a well-known street artist whose work usually features wildlife.
He came to the Isle of Wight to paint the harbour seal outside Newport’s Lord Louis Library at the invitation of Secrets of the Solent, a National Lottery Heritage Fund project supported by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Jones-Evans: Only a few steps away from wild species that live here too
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans said,
“The Wildlife Trust have done a great job attracting the funds and organising this project to brighten up our historic county town.
“Even in the heart of Newport we are only a few steps away from the wild species that live here too, and this beautiful new mural will remind us of that.
“This space was ideal as it has previously supported public art.
“With the support of Shaping Newport we were able to secure the site for ATM to create this work, and we’re hoping to deliver more art like this soon.
“This council has a focus on both the environment and supporting business; and Secrets of the Solent is showing one way we can do both.”
ATM: Must learn a greater love and respect for other living things
Artist ATM said,
“We, as human beings, are very much a part of the whole web of nature, dependent on a healthy environment like every other living creature.
“It is so easy to forget this in our modern industrialised world, where we are insulated by comfort and technology.
“We must learn a greater love and respect for other living things if we are to avert global disaster.”
A regular visitor
Harbour seals are regularly seen around the Island, and particularly in the Solent, where they are often seen on sandbanks and beaches.
When out of the water, harbour seals sometimes hold their body in a curved banana position, with their head and tail both in the air at the same time, and this is the pose that ATM chose to show in his mural.
Like grey seals, harbour seals feed on fish, but also eat squid, whelks, crabs and mussels. Their pups are born during the summer and can swim when they are only a few hours old.
The subject of the mural was chosen via a vote held with the local community.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
