Giant wildlife mural unveiled near Southampton
Six artworks celebrate the Solent's wildlife
Last updated 7th Jun 2022
A large, hand-painted lobster mural has been unveiled near Southampton to complete a series of six artworks that celebrate the Solent’s rare and vibrant marine wildlife.
The colossal crustacean adorns the River Hamble Harbour Master’s Office in Warsash.
It joins two other paintings in Southampton, another near Portsmouth and a pair on the Isle of Wight.
London-based street artist ATM teamed up with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to create the work.
Despite being a busy shipping lane and a major hub for recreational water-based activities, the Solent is internationally important for wildlife.
Each year, up to 125,000 migratory birds flock to the Solent’s coastlines while its patchwork of marine habitats hosts rare and unusual species from sharks, dolphins and seals to cuttlefish, seahorses and jellyfish.
ATM’s paintings depict six species found in the 20-mile-long strait between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Each mural was painted freehand and took the artist up to four days to complete.
Dr Tim Ferrero, the trust’s senior marine biologist, said: “Within our Secrets of the Solent project, one of our key aims is to celebrate the marine wildlife and habitats of the Solent.
“We really want to engage people with marine wildlife and these murals introduce people to some important marine species and remind people the Solent is a fantastic habitat with some remarkable wildlife.
“The murals also form part of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s vision for a wilder Solent.
"We want to bring back more wildlife and encourage the regrowth and restoration of marine habitats.”
The location of the six murals can be found on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust website, along with more information about the Secrets of the Solent project, at hiwwt.org.uk/secrets-of-the-solent