AN INCREDIBLE under-the-sea themed mural has been unveiled in a Basingstoke underpass painted by a local artist.

The 20-metre mural was created by Sian Storey, who was commissioned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to brighten up the underpass linking the Leisure Park and Winklebury.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Talented Sian spent several weeks designing and then painting the tunnel, transforming it into a beautiful underwater design featuring creatures found in the British Isles including jellyfish and turtles.

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Sian, 39, from Basingstoke, spent more than a week planning the design before starting painting on November 7, taking around 36 hours to complete the masterpiece which has been attracting visitors from Basingstoke and beyond.

The mother-of-two said: “When I got there the whole place was waterlogged so it was about keeping dry and warm while painting. The surface was okay because it was brick and primed so it was quite nice to work on.

“I had to take a 2D design and wrap it around so it was a challenge. And of course, it’s a very busy underpass so I had to be careful of people coming through. But people made lots of lovely comments.”

Sian said she has been “overwhelmed” by the feedback since sharing the design on social media, adding: “It’s been amazing. I had no idea it would be so warmly received, it’s been overwhelming. I have so many comments and messages to get back to.

Basingstoke Gazette:

“It’s such a great thing to be able to do something that is being enjoyed by the community and people are coming from further afield. The tunnel was perfect for an under-the-sea theme and I hope it’s an immersive experience.”

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Sian said the planning for the project took longer than the actual painting, explaining: “I knew it was roughly 20 metres so I decided to break each side into three parts. So rather than looking at the whole thing I broke it into smaller sections.

“To start with it’s all about measurements and finding the centre. The planning takes a long time, especially as I had to do research about the creatures and find images and design ideas of how it would look overall.

“Then I had to work out how much paint I would need.”

Sian used a variety of paint including  acrylic and emulsion, before varnishing the entire tunnel so that it will be long-lasting.

She now hopes that everyone will enjoy her artwork for years to come, adding: “I love painting canvas but painting on a large scale for everyone to enjoy helps spread the word. I do believe if you improve and enhance your environment people will respect it.”

The mural was funded originally by Network Rail and the council before the pandemic and involved Winklebury and Manydown Community Action Group, with workshops delivered by Basingstoke Independent Creative Network.

Leader of the council Cllr Simon Bound said: “I am really pleased to see the new mural bringing even more art to the borough. This new street art in the subway connecting Winklebury residents to the Leisure Park creates a brighter and more pleasant journey.”