A new colourful mural is taking shape in Newquay.

The artwork by renowned Bristol artist 45RPM at the back of the Walkabout depicts what Newquay means to young people in the town.

Known for his illustrative and playful style 45 RPM and Slapdash Studio collaborated with the Newquay Girls Guide to co-create the artwork.

The group explored what Newquay means to them, from surfing and beach days to the outdoor lifestyle and the allure of slowing down. The mural features elements like surfing, palm trees, crabs, fishing nets, and camping, all brought to life with 45 RPM’s unique style.

45RPM said: “We came down and did a workshop with the girl guides and they pitched ideas what Newquay meant to them.

“One idea was to have a water spouting from a whale, which I thought was great to have in there.

“Some of them created patterns for the mural. I wouldn’t have necessarily come up with a lot of the ideas in the mural, so they have inspired me.”

The vibrant artwork will form part of a free street art walking trail celebrating Newquay’s unique heritage and identity. The art initiative is part of the Be Newquay Festival, which aims to help attract people into the town.

Other murals in the scheme include a fisherman tending to his nets at the junction of Fore Street and Sydney Road, which has been created by artist Elle Koziupa.

An abstract beach scene has been created by Cornwall-based artist Kleiner Shames at MIX NQY in East Street.

45RPM said: “The mural is going to be part of an art trail. Every mural will be a different style such as photo realism and I’m the guy who is creating the fun stuff.

“The idea is to take a plain thoroughfare and make it a destination. The pub opposite might get more business for example.

“People will walk to the beach through the street, which is a route they may not have thought about. So, it makes somewhere a destination.”

45RPM’s mural is already attracting admirers.

Resident James Desborough said: “I think the artwork is brilliant. It brings so much to the town’s character. It introduces a younger vibe and will add to the heritage town trail.

“I think the artwork will help attract a younger generation to the town. I think it shows the heart and soul of Newquay.”

Each mural will be connected via QR codes, which will be installed soon.

Once the third mural is completed and QR codes have been installed at each location, the free street art trail will be available. Visitors will be able to scan the QR codes to uncover the inspiration and stories behind each mural. In advance of the QR codes being installed, visitors can visit Love Newquay’s website and discover the locations there.

Jack Tierney from Slapdash Studio said: "We’ve loved bringing MUQY to life on the streets of Newquay. The initial concept, developed by Dirk Parker (BID board member) and myself, was made possible with funding from Experience Newquay.

“Through my broader work with Slapdash Studio, I've had the privilege of collaborating with an incredible roster of street artists and was able to secure the artists who created the first three murals. Kleiner Shames, Elle Koziupa, and 45 RPM have each brought their distinct styles to Newquay.

“Our goal was to create a street art trail featuring individual murals by artists with distinct styles, celebrating Newquay’s heritage and future in unique ways. Collaborating with local community groups has been instrumental in bringing these pieces to life.

“We have exciting plans for MUQY, with more sites set to launch in 2025, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Newquay BID to build on this legacy."

The first phase of MUQY, and the Be Newquay Festival has been curated by Cornwall Council led-project ‘Experience Newquay’ in collaboration with local project partners Love Newquay and Visit Newquay. It is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.