Colourful contribution to Carlisle made as new mural is created

Painted onto the Red Herring Escape Rooms building on West Tower Street, Carlisle, the eye-catching illusionary piece spells out ‘The Bigger Picture’, a cryptic message designed in an equally puzzling fashion with shadowing and angles aimed at conveying a three-dimensional image.

Simon Watson, from Red Herring Escape Rooms, said: “I saw the various art that went around the city, and I think it's great for the area.

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“There are many advantages to it - when we bought the building, one of the things we wanted to do was put a mural on the side.

“A year ago, I approached Ben Heslop (Blank Wall Assassins, creator of other art pieces in Carlisle) and asked if he’d like to do something on that wall.”

He said the 3-D illusion style fits in with the business’ offering of puzzle-based entertainment.

“My mantra has always been ‘see the bigger picture’ so it fit perfectly,” he added.

Mr Heslop said the art was done by typographic artist Luke Smile and explained: "Luke is part of a bigger picture project and part of the wider cultural scene in Carlisle.

“Blank Wall Assassins are seen as pushing public culture here.”

He said Mr Smile is an artist he’s ‘admired for years’ and who has painted on temporary walls and at their festival in 2022, but this opportunity granted him a large, permanent wall.

Luke Smile creating the mural (Image: Ben Heslop)

“He’s from a graphic design background, and his work is really interesting.

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“It took six days of painting, and we were lucky with the weather this week; it only rained one day.

“He was painting from 7am to 6pm, finishing off with torches to make sure it was complete,” he added.

There is much more to come, Mr Heslop said, as this most recent piece is the start of a larger project for the city in collaboration with Eden Arts, that will be announced soon.

Both Mr Heslop and Mr Watson thanked the Quakers next door for being accommodating during the process and positive about bringing more art into the city.