ANCHORS AWAY AS MORE ARTIST ARRIVE IN NORTH WALES

AN ABANDONED cruise liner, which is on course to become Europe’s largest open air gallery, is set to play canvas for a second series of artworks, following a collection of artists having already ‘bombed’ the ship, docked in North Wales, during 2012.

The Duke of Lancaster, decommissioned cruise liner, will continue its transformation, with a second phase of artists due to visit the site in the small hamlet of Llanerch-Y-Mor, between 22^nd March and the 2^nd April. The artists will add their own unique creations, to sit alongside the 8 existing murals, which were added last year by a succession of artists who came from across Europe.

Phase I was very much a clandestine affair with the DuDug Team promoting the art after it had happened, however, the announcement of this line-up has been made in advance to allow people to see the artists at work from the nearby Wales Coastal Path.

Project Director, Maurice, comments: “We have an exciting line-up of artists scheduled to visit the Duke throughout the last week of March, into early April, and they are happy for the public to come along to see them at work. Unlike some of the artists from the first phase, who kept their identities secret, the latest batch of artists are not anonymous, which makes it a great opportunity for those who are interested, to see the project unfolding. All of the guys on this Phase are instantly recognisable having featured in many festivals in the UK including Upfest in Bristol and Sun, Sea and Spray in Blackpool” 

Artists set to leave their creations during the second phase include: Dale Grimshaw, a well-respected gallery artist originally from Lancashire; SNUB23, who creates high impact graphics and has exhibited and painted at events across Europe; Spacehop, who started out as a street artist, but now works on canvas, creating freehand pieces; and finally, Dan Kitchener, a diverse artist who creates work using a multitude of mediums, he has painted throughout the UK at various shows and events over the years.

Maurice continues: “The first phase of artists chose the theme of corruption to work with and their artworks certainly portrayed this. The second phase will continue that theme but instead of ‘Your Ship Looks Like **** so we painted it” we have given the artists a new slogan to work with – however, that is being kept firmly under wraps until the artworks have been completed.”

The Black Duke of Lancaster has so far played host to artists from Latvia, France and Hungary, as well as more local artists from Wales, Ireland and England. All of who have been motivated by the historic ship’s back story and have the aspiration to see it brought back to former glory, but with a poignant new look that will see it become a major tourist attraction in an area crying out for regeneration via tourism.

“The next batch of artists is as eager as the last to leave their mark on the Duke, but with the winter months we were forced to take a break from revitalising the ship” explains Maurice.

“We are now ready for the longer days and better weather, with some of the biggest and most watched names in the Urban Art world keen to have their say.”

The transformation of the ship is being coordinated by anarchist group Dudug and reaction to their plans has been mixed. Those who have long campaigned for the restoration of the ship had a very split opinion at first, but Maurice is now seeing those who doubted the project come round:

“At first some were not keen on the artwork and saw it very doggedly as ‘illegal graffiti’ in the negative sense of the word. However, many now realise that The Duke has been given a new purpose and a new lease of life. I can see no better way to bring the historical plight of this beautiful old lady to the world other than creating a true landmark – the largest open air gallery in Europe.

Dudug have come up against negativity and pessimism from the local Flintshire council before they even took time to understand the project and its objectives, but the group intend to work hard to overturn any objections that have been laid before them, so they can progress their plans of regenerating the historic vessel.

The ship owners, who have had on going well documented battles with the Council since docking the ship in North Wales, are fully on-board with and behind the plans that will, if successful, see the ship once again become a must see attraction.