Town gets first bear mural in plan to add 'vibrancy'

A mural featuring bears drinking hot chocolate has appeared on the side of a bar in a Warwickshire town.

The art on Kenilworth's Fossato Lounge has been created by Tim Robottom of Brink Contemporary Arts in collaboration with a group of volunteers and young people.

It is the first mural commissioned as part of a community art project in the county.

Ten murals in total, under the Blank Canvas scheme, will be installed in locations, each reflecting the place they are in, and containing a Warwickshire bear, said the county council.

The scheme was a great way to add "vibrancy to our town centres," said the authority.

Each piece is designed by a local artist working with a local community group, so that voices of the community are captured in the process, said the council.

The first mural features bears enjoying a cup of hot chocolate "highlighting the great variety of hospitality venues throughout the town".

"Kenilworth Castle features as a backdrop with fireworks ablaze in honour of the annual firework display," it added.

The mural also has a variety of ivy specific to the area, known as Kenilworth ivy, and the bee-friendly status of the town is reflected in the bees buzzing about the flowers.

"It's great to see these projects in our town centres, helping to create areas of interest and bring people into the towns to see how their community has been captured and using this as a chance to discover more within the local area," councillor Rob Howard said.

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