VISITORS exploring Etherley Incline during the bi-centennial celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (SDR) are in for an additional treat – a huge mural of High Force waterfall.
The amazing artwork was commissioned by resident Kevin Smith and covers the entire gable end of his Phoenix Row home.
The work was completed earlier this year by a spray-paint artist known simply as “Sketch”.
Mr Smith said: “At first I was thinking should I get something to do with the [Etherley] Incline, with [coal] tubs and all that lot, but I thought no. I thought I’d get them to do something nice but not over the top.
“All of that is done with aerosols. His missus painted everything black first as an undercoat, then he did the rest with his aerosols.”
The mural has a number of interesting details including an owl clutching its freshly caught prey and a majestic eagle flying over the iconic landmark.
It also has a number of butterflies in tribute to Mr Smith’s late wife Sylvie-May who died about 15 years ago.
Mr Smith said it took the artist about a week to complete the mural since when it has becoming a talking point.
Mr Smith, a retired heavy plant operator, said: “I asked the neighbours first.
“I didn’t have to, as long as you are not advertising something you can put what you want. But the neighbours love it, everybody thinks the world of it.
“People stop and have a good talk about it. It has brought me some good company, to tell you the truth.”
Mr Smith also had a mural of his treasured three-wheeler motorbike painted on his garage door.
