NHS staff fighting Covid-19 honoured in sensational 3-storey mural in Southport

A sensational three story mural celebrating the NHS heroes who saved so many lives during the UK’s Covid-19 crisis now stands proudly in Southport town centre.

The eye-catching artwork was commissioned by Mark Cunningham, Lyn Cunningham and Jacqui Holt, Directors of Anthony James Estate Agents in Southport. It is situated on the side of the firm’s building on Hoghton Street in Southport town centre.

It was created over several months by local artist Robert Newbiggin and depicts an NHS nurse, a paramedic, a doctor with angel wings and a North West Air Ambulance pilot.

On the other side of the building is the UK’s biggest ever mural of Captain Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old British icon who raised more than £30million for the NHS during the pandemic by walking laps of his garden with the aid of his walking aid. Sir Tom was fixed to the building last weekend with the NHS mural joining him this weekend.

The stunning street art will be on display for the next six months before they are both auctioned off to raise funds for the NHS.

Mark Cunningham said he wanted to commission and display the 24ft high works of art on his building, Charlotte House, to pay tribute to those who have done so much for others during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The NHS mural on the Anthony James Estate Agents building on Hoghton Street in Southport town centre

It took several months to plan the project and paint 18, 8ft by 4ft MDF boards individually at Robert Newbiggin’s studio, before putting them all together on the outside of the Anthony James Estate Agents building.

Mark said: “The scale of this is absolutely phenomenal! The new murals are huge. They were a logistical nightmare! But we are very proud of them.

“We wanted to create something that was a really visual way of thanking everyone on the frontline of our health service and Captain Sir Tom Moore.

“I had the idea early on in the pandemic. Every Thursday night, we would stand on our doorsteps and clap for the NHS, but then the clapping ended.

“So I wanted to create something else that showed our huge appreciation of the NHS and for Captain Sir Tom Moore, after he inspired the whole nation.

“I spoke with Robert about my idea and he said ‘how am I going to fit this into my studio!’

“He didn’t realise at first how big a mural I was envisaging. He was shocked when I said I was looking for something that was going to be 24ft high and 12ft wide.

Artist Rob Newbiggin with the huge mural of Captain Sir Tom Moore in Southport

“Every step of the way we have been scratching our heads saying ‘how do we do this’?

“How do we create it, how do we get it up on the wall, how do we seal it?

“It has taken six months to make this happen. We have had huge challenges to overcome but we have been so excited to see the murals appear on our walls.”

Anthony James Estate Agents was founded in 2002 and has been based in Southport since 2005. The firm has always been a central part of the local community, regularly raising money for good causes, including supporting the town’s Community Link Foundation.

Now they want local people to get involved with their new murals during the time they are here.

Mark said: “We want people to come and take selfies and pictures with the new murals.

“We want this to be another talking point for Southport for people to come and have a look at them, and hopefully something to bring people into town.

“After six months we want to auction them both off to raise money for the NHS.”

Mark also has huge respect for Captain Sir Tom Moore for all he has done for the UK.

He said: “I wonder what his goal was when he started. To raise £1,000? He has now raised over £30million for the NHS which is phenomenal.

“What he was doing just resonated with what people in the country were feeling during the pandemic. He showed people that we can do this. Our project too was all about saying yes we can do this!

Part of Rob Newbiggin’s huge mural in tribute to the NHS which has been commissioned by Mark Cunningham, owner of Anthony James Estate Agents

“We just felt it was important to do something to recognise what he had done and what the NHS are doing for everyone during this pandemic.”

Artist Robert Newbiggin has created some notable paintings of notable public figures including Dame Vera Lynn, Eric Morecambe and Eddie Large.

But the murals in Southport have been one of his greatest ever challenges – and his greatest achievements.

Robert was a professional boxer before he swapped one canvas for another and took up painting.

He still coaches boxing – he has sparred with and coached champion boxers including Tyson Fury – and painting has become his second passion.

He said: “These murals are a colossal size – just Sir Tom Moore’s head alone is huge! One 8ft by 4ft board encompasses his head.

“It is quite something to think it is the biggest mural of Captain Sir Tom Moore in the UK.

“This project has been all about thanking Sir Tom and the NHS for all they have done and all they do for us.

“A lot of art is in the eye of the beholder and I hope seeing these murals are going to bring smiles to people’s faces.

“It is quite a sight! It is very different walking down the road, looking up, and seeing a giant Captain Sir Tom Moore looking down at me. He is colossal!

“I have never painted something so big in my life. I am pretty chuffed with Mark’s commission.”

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