Fairyport

Shipping Brow Gallery's Fairyport project is underway! With the support of Maryport Town Council, there will be sessions taking place in all the Maryport primary schools, involving around 480 children, designing maps and signage, as well as beautiful eco-friendly hand-made items to freshly decorate the path.

Maryport CE Primary pupils

---

While we've been working with the schools, we've been hearing how the Fairy Path, which leads down from the Upper Prom to the Lower Prom, dates back at least a hundred years. It became beautifully decorated during Lockdown, and now, years later, its desperately in need of some TLC!

So far, myself and Shipping Brow Gallery's Artist-in-Residence, Jim Osborne, have been taking groups of children up the path, to sketch and look out for wildlife and of course, the odd fairy. They're quite hard to spot as they're rather shy. One little girl from Our Lady and St Patrick School recommended, it's best to be quiet on your way up the path!

We've been working with Dearham, Maryport, Our Lady & St Patricks and Netherton so far. Later on, we'll be seeing Flimby, Ellenborough, Grasslot and Ewanrigg Schools, and we'll be working with Maryport Beavers and a young wildlife group! Already, the ideas for the trail map are A-mazing! Have a look at what we've got so far...everything from fairies and brownies, to viking kings and princesses, to wild boar and magic foxes...and not forgetting one or two mischievous elves..

Over the next few months, hundreds of children will be visiting the Shipping Brow Gallery as part of their session. The first groups have already seen an exhibition of both Jim's and my work, together with the work of print-maker Jack Fawdry-Tatham. More recently, Dearham School caught the opening week of Sarah Reid, a local pastel artist. I hope they've found it inspiring. Take a look at their artwork, see what you think!

The making phase of the project will be coming up in May, and we've got bundles of ideas of what we can make, using materials that won't harm the environment..