Murals of Bodmin
Take a walk through Bodmin and you’ll find its streets telling stories in bold colour and striking detail and moments captured in time. A series of new murals are bringing the town’s heritage, culture and wildlife to life in unexpected places – why not take a wander and see these new additions to Bodmin’s streets?
A town in motion: Honey Street
On Honey Street, artist Jack Tierney has created a powerful mural inspired by historic photographs from the George Ellis collection, held at Kresen Kernow.
Ellis, a Bodmin-based photographer, documented life across Cornwall from the 1930s to the 1970s – and this artwork weaves together those glimpses of everyday life into a contemporary collage.
Look closely and you’ll spot moments that defined the town: Land Girls heading out to work during the Second World War, community celebrations like Beating the Bounds, sporting triumphs, agricultural shows, and performances at St Petroc’s Church.
Each image captures a piece of Bodmin’s past, reimagined to sit in its present.
Here are some of the images that informed the mural:
- Girl from Wings For Victory concert, 26 May 1943
- Eric Stickland horse jumping, Tregear Farm, 16 July 1943
- Winner held up by the mayor, Beating the Bounds, 4 September 1946
- Wills heads the the ball out, Bodmin vs. Torquay, 26 February 1955
- First Reserve Pig, Class 115, Royal Cornwall Show, 14 – 15 July 1948
- Pilgrim Players, St Petroc’s Church, 19 August 1940
- Junior high jump, Bodmin County School Sports, 18 June 1941
- Mr Richards with prizewinning bird, December 1962
- Harvesting, Margate Farm, 13 August 1940
- Land girls off for the day’s work, 22 August 1942
A cinematic past: Crockwell Street
On Crockwell Street, artist Claire Prouvost nods to Bodmin’s cultural history with a bold, cubist-inspired mural. Painted on the remaining walls of the former Palace Theatre – an art deco cinema – the piece plays with shape, colour and perspective to evoke the magic of the big screen.
The building’s original façade, long since demolished, is reimagined on the reverse side in a playful way, while stylised figures hint at the glamour and escapism of cinema’s golden age. It’s a striking tribute to a much-loved venue and a reminder of the town’s rich creative past.
Nature up close: Dennison Road Car Park
At Dennison Road Car Park, Cornwall-based street artist Koe One brings the natural world into sharp focus. His photorealistic mural features some of Cornwall’s most iconic birdlife, including the much-loved Cornish chough, alongside a buzzard and fox.
Detailed and lifelike, the artwork offers a moment to pause and admire the wildlife that surrounds Bodmin.
Together, these murals create a trail through Bodmin that invites you to explore a little more slowly. Whether you’re discovering the town for the first time or seeing familiar streets in a new light, they offer a fresh way to connect with Bodmin’s stories of the past, present and natural.
Have you spotted the new murals? What did you think?
