Two stunning murals of Denis Law have now been completed in Printfield, Woodside – the area in Aberdeen where the Scottish footballing legend was born and raised – and marks a milestone in planned legacy projects in Aberdeen.
The remarkable artworks, situated on a high-rise block off Great Northern Road, will signpost the entrance to ‘Printfield 10 – A Denis Law Legacy Trail’, a concept initially developed by Communication Design alumni Derek McKechnie, which aims to celebrate the area of the city where Denis grew up and help inspire and enhance the local community.
Like the murals, the trail is a predominantly community-led initiative following conceptions by Gray’s School of Art and Denis Law Legacy Trust, the children’s charity based at RGU SPORT which works in partnership with Robert Gordon University (RGU).
The project now also involves the expertise of Fine Day, a creative studio in Aberdeen, and Aberdeen City Council. It is hoped the trail will be complete within weeks before an official ceremonial opening in May to mark both the murals and the Denis Law Legacy Trail.
Speaking on his involvement, Derek McKechnie, said: “Printfield 10 was a concept that I developed while studying on the Communication Design course at Gray’s School of Art. The course works closely with Denis Law Legacy Trust, and I wanted to highlight where Denis grew up and celebrate his achievements and enable other people to learn more about his formative years.
“I’m hoping that it will inspire other kids to aim high and be ambitious, even if you come from humble beginnings. It’s been amazing to watch Blank Walls create these stunning murals and see Fine Day from Aberdeen turn the idea of a trail with 10 stop points into reality”.
Created by artist Jerome Davenport, founder of street art creators Blank Walls, the murals are 30 metres high and 16 metres wide and span the largest known surface area of its art type in Scotland.
They capture Law in his trademark celebratory pose for both Manchester United and Scotland, symbolizing his incredible achievements, and will stand as a lasting tribute in the heart of the community where his journey began as a young local boy playing in the streets. His journey to stardom culminated with winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 1964, and he remains the only Scottish footballer to do so.
World renowned street artist Jerome Davenport travelled all the way from Perth, Australia to complete the murals in his signature photorealistic style. Jerome was assisted by Charlie Kelman, a local street artist who hails from Bucksburn. Jerome said: “Denis Law’s legacy is more than football, it’s about inspiring future generations, and I hope these murals reflect that.”
Another Communication Design student from Gray’s, Innes Gregory, has been capturing the development of the trail and the mural through documentary and timelapse photography in collaboration with Jerome and Blank Walls.
Innes, a current stage four student at RGU, said: “I first encountered the Denis Law murals and the Printfield 10 project while studying Communication Design at Gray’s. The concept immediately resonated with me and it was an opportunity to connect with a local legacy project that will inspires generations to come.
“Learning about the Streetsport initiative (the flagship programme of Denis Law Legacy Trust) and its impact in local communities sparked something in me – I knew I wanted to contribute in my own way through photography and film which became my lens to engage with the project, capture its essence, and share the story.
“I’ve been particularly inspired by the course at Gray’s which places emphasis on socially engaged design and reinforces my belief in giving back through creative practice. My involvement with artist and curator Jerome Davenport, plus his Blank Walls team including local graffiti artist Charlie Kelman, has deepened my appreciation of their work and city’s vibrant street art.”
Innes has also been discovering the Printfield area and meeting with local residents.
“There’s a famous photograph of Denis playing football in the street outside his home with some kids. Denis had just signed for Manchester United for a British record fee. Amazingly Jim Gray, who is one of the kids in the photograph, turned up to see how the murals were progressing. It was great to meet him and hear his stories about Denis.”
RGU’s involvement also continues to include Gray’s School of Art’s Mobile Art School. They teamed up with local residents, including parents, kids and football fans, to help tidy up the area and paint 20 communal bins around the community red and blue to mirror the murals.
They were joined by Colin Leonard from Fine Day and members of the Law family including niece, Debbie, and grandson, Harvey, in addition to members of the Printfield Community Project including Kit Trail, Jim Duncan, Amanda Pirie, and Malcolm Graham.
Ray Downie, Mobile Art School Co-ordinator, was supported by Communication Design Lecturer Marie Simpson and Gray’s first-year student volunteer Katie MacMillan. He said: “The local residents were looking for some support and we were pleased to help them out. Everyone really enjoyed the opportunity to get together and have some fun, thanks to everyone who picked up a paintbrush and got involved”.
Daniel Sutherland, Associate Dean for Economic Social & Cultural Development at Gray’s School of Art said: “We are delighted to see the Printfield 10 project come to fruition. Gray’s continues to play a key role in local communities through our involvement with Denis Law Legacy Trust.
“Our students have regularly benefited from collaborating and applying their skills within the context of the charity’s work and their associated programmes and activities and we are delighted to see significant benefits that this has brought to thousands of local young people directly within their communities”.
“RGU is renowned for its participation in this type of activity and was recently recognised through an Engage Watermark Award from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) which highlights our commitment to public engagement and the positive impact we have made in local communities”
‘Printfield 10 – A Denis Law Legacy Trail’ is supported by UK Shared Prosperity funding and Aberdeen City Council Common Good funding. The project, which Aberdeen City Council have played a key role in enabling, aims to attract football fans, street art lovers, and visitors to the city who can now walk in the footsteps of a sporting legend and experience a world-class public artwork in the heart of Aberdeen.
