Fore Street Mural
Funded by The Good Growth Fund and Enfield Council, Doodle was commissioned as one of the five artists on the Fore Street Murals project, bringing public art to the Edmonton area, co-created with local residents. Following several community consultation events, we created two of the six murals on the public art trail. Based on the rich history of Charlie's fruit and veg stall on Leeds Street N18, Charlie’s Wall is a set of nostalgic artworks, located in one of N18's heritage areas. The murals, installed by Wood Street Walls, seek to retell the hidden stories observed through the eyes of the market and the community that it has served over the past 100 years.
Inspired by the stories of Charlie, as well as contributions from Edmontonians past and present, the murals are influenced by Victorian illustrations, botanical studies and William Morris. The artwork will eventually evolve into a faux 'ghost sign' - where text and illustrations of years gone by remain visible, fading over time, contributing to the history of the area.
Imagery taken from both the past and present include: crowns and a tun as a nod to the Paddy Power building once being a popular public house, and blocks representing the chimneys of Snells Estate Mansion - now demolished to make way for the current housing. Transport images through the years are depicted with both horse-drawn and electric trams, as well as the more recent mopeds, which reflect the long-standing hustle and bustle of Fore Street, being a thoroughfare since Victorian times.
Colourful fruit, vegetables and fish are prominent in the pieces, marking the historical significance of the market stalls, with an array of different produce to reflect the deep-rooted diversity of Edmonton's cultural community. This contrasts with the monochromatic tones of the man-made transport elements of the piece, set in an urban environment. Quotes from 'Charlie’s Stall' by local Poet Keith Mowatt also feature throughout.