Bournemouth and Poole Seafront Transformed into Wonderful Outdoor Art Exhibition!

23rd May 2018

Thanks to local gallery Ambassadeur Art and Bournemouth and Poole Tourism, a variety of artists, many based in or from the area, have created a series of murals that make fun, vibrant and colourful backdrops for people’s pictures. The Selfie Wall Trail stretches from Sandbanks to Southbourne – taking in Branksome Chine, Alum Chine, Bournemouth Pier, Pier Approach, Boscombe Beach and Fisherman’s Walk.  So, wherever you are on the seafront, the perfect photo opportunity may arise. 

There is also the chance of winning a fantastic prize in a competition that will run throughout the summer. Click here to find out more.

Launching on May 26^th and running till September 2^nd, the trail can be followed on foot, by bike or aboard the famous Land Trains on certain parts of the route.

Cllr John Challinor, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure at Poole says, “The Selfie Wall Trail is a fantastic collaboration between Poole and Bournemouth’s tourism teams and the best of local artistic talent. The project is a perfect way for families and groups of friends to either explore the whole of the ten miles of seafront or shorter distances – running, walking or cycling!”

From the Bournemouth perspective, Cllr Pat Oakley, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Arts comments, “I am delighted that we are working on such a fun collaborative project and with fantastic local artistic talent whose amazing murals will be found along the whole length of the Bournemouth and Poole seafront, from Sandbanks to Southbourne. We hope visitors and residents alike will get involved, get fit, take selfies and other photos and enter the incredible competition.”

Ambassadeur Resident Artist Iain Alexander says, “After coming together with Bournemouth Tourism during the summer of 2017 to produce Bournemouth’s largest street art in the form of a giant Spiderman at Pier Approach, we wanted to once again contribute to the art scene in this fantastic seaside town. The Selfie Wall Trail idea was born and we are delighted to have found sites right along the seafront from Sandbanks to Southbourne, including two on the iconic Bournemouth Pier.”

Work is almost complete and there will be eleven sites, painted by seven different artists including Iain Alexander who has created “Floating Love”, a kaleidoscopic, shimmering heart created from hundreds of butterflies on the wing, to be found on the East side of The Pier and well  known local street artist Krishna Malla. His mesmerising “The Owl and The Pussy Cat” adorns the Sandbanks end of the seafront while further east at the Alum Chine cloisters, Ricky Also brings us a light-hearted, 6-framed look at beach life in “La Playa”.

Other designs include hungry sharks, giant ice creams, fish fishing, dapper foxes wearing shades, ethereal angels, cuddly toys in crazy pop colours and giant sky rockets, all designed for the art of selfie taking and to bring colour and fun to the already fabulous seafront.