Peaky Blinders by Mr Murals at Digbeth Loc. Studios

During November 2024, the street artist Mr Murals painted a Peaky Blinders mural on Montague Street in Digbeth for the Digbeth Loc. Studios, of Steven Knight, who is making the Peaky Blinders Netflix movie on the site. It was formerly a Birmingham City Council Environmental site with the waste fleet of bin lorries until 2023.

You can approach Montague Street from Great Barr Street in Digbeth. It's near the Birmingham Central Bus Garage of National Express West Midlands, and the Grand Union Canal (Digbeth Branch).

The whole artwork was painted in several weeks by Mr Murals (Daniel Russell-Ahern).

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PEAKY BLINDERS WELCOME HOME THIS IS YOUR CITY BY ORDER OF DIGBETH LOC. STUDIOS

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PEAKY BLINDERS Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) WELCOME HOME

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Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) 

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THIS IS YOUR Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) CITY BY ORDER 

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Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy)

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OF DIGBETH Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) LOC. STUDIOS

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Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy)

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The full mural from right to left.

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* Note they asked Mr Murals to repaint Ada as looking older. 

See also Jack Babington's photo blog.

Photography by Elliott Brown

Brum's Reindeer

Brum's Reindeer a trail of 9 painted reindeer from Wild in Art, sponsored by Shopping in Birmingham, over November and December 2024. During the Christmas period. Donner was initially in the Great Western Arcade before being moved to the Christmas in Cathedral Square Craft Market (will be moved back when it ends).

Blitzen at Grand Central Birmingham

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Comet in the Piccadilly Arcade

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Donner in the Great Western Arcade (now at the Christmas in Cathedral Square Craft Market)

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Cupid in the Great Western Arcade

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Vixen in Cass Art on Corporation Street

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Rudolph inside of Selfridges

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Dancer in The Mailbox

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Dasher at Ice Skate Birmingham in Centenary Square

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Prancer at Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market in Victoria Square

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Island of Foam, part of the Birmingham Weekender at St Martin's Square

The Birmingham Weekender held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, 23rd to 26th August 2024. One highlight was the Island of Foam, held at St Martin's Square at Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham. Well down the steps that leads up to Central Street (St Martin's Walk). This was on the August Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2024. At 12pm, but started half an hour later.

Island of Foam by Stephanie Lüning launched day four of the 2024 Birmingham Weekender programme. I found a spot near Selfridges on the upper blue balcony. And had to wait over half an hour before any foam was released. They also put various colours into it, asking kids "what's your favourite colour?". Was well worth the wait.

Was on the August Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2024. The 12pm to 1pm session. But they started it before 12:30pm. 

Island of Foam by Stephanie Lüning invites audiences of all ages to play and move within a magical world of coloured foam, creating a sensory spectacle as the festival finale.

Outstanding artist Stephanie Lüning delves deep into the fascinating world of foam, unveiling a series of works that redefine the boundaries of art. Foam, often considered an everyday and overlooked material, is transformed by Lüning into a source of metaphysical insight. In Lüning’s works, foam is presented not only as a physical substance, but also as a carrier of a multitude of meanings. From urban landscapes to political movements and individual life stories, she skilfully interweaves the foam with complex themes to create a fascinating visual narrative.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

The Shakespeare Express returns for the summer 2024 holiday season

Vintage Trains has put The Shakespeare Express back on, starting Sunday 21st July 2024, and for every Sunday to September 2024. Video of 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe at Solihull Station and photos of it at Birmingham Moor Street Station.

 See my YouTube video clip of The Shakespeare Express - video link Shakespeare Express - 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe flies through Solihull Station.

That was about 13:18 on Sunday 21st July 2024 at Solihull Station platform 2 (I checked Real Time Trains before I headed out).

A 15 minute wait for my train to Birmingham Moor Street (13:35). The Dorridge to Stourbridge Junction service. I got to Birmingham Moor Street and saw steam behind the West Midlands Railway 172004 I had just got off. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe was waiting at platform 1, as the WMR train to Stourbridge Junction had to go through the Snow Hill Tunnel first.

Once it had gone, was able to get a few photos of the steam locomotive at Birmingham Moor Street (I've previously photographed it at Birmingham Snow Hill and at the Tyseley Locomotive Works in the past).

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dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Express" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/5043%20EoME%20BMSS%2021072024%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

Link to previous Shakespeare Express post:

Shakespeare Express 2022 and 2023

Birmingham, we're going on a Bear Hunt

Did you know that Birmingham We Are has it's very own Wild in Art bear outside of the Mailbox? Well kind of. It's named We Are Bear-mingham. It is one of ten bears to find between July and September 2024 and we've got them all. Wild in Art has this mini trail in Birmingham City Centre within Central BID Birmingham. A year before Bulls in the City.

1. Great Western Arcade. Bobby by Jenny Leonard

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2. Corporation Street. Groovy Bear-by by Caroline Daly

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3. Grand Central. Luna & the Moon by Marnie Maurri

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4. Piccadilly Arcade. Jester by Amanda Quellin

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5. New Street (Victoria Square). Biodiversity Bear by Jodie Silverman

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6. Mailbox Steps. We Are Bear-mingham by Ekaterina Sheath

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7. John Bright Street. A Walk on the Wild Side by Rachel & Phillipa Corcutt

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8. Station Street Steps (Birmingham New Street Station). Clarence the Climate Bear by Mary & Janice

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9. Bullring (Rotunda Square). Mother Paw'd by Jessica Perrin

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10. Selfridges. Spectrum by Christine Jopling

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Birmingham, We're going on a Bear Hunt - Trail Map

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dndimg alt="Bear Hunt" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WiA%20BwgoaBH%20trail%20map%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Trail map created by Wild in Art and We're Going on a Bear Hunt in association with Central BID Birmingham