A SPLASH of colour has helped bring Barrow’s boarded-up shops back to life.

A series of vibrant murals have been installed across vacant shop fronts in Portland Walk as part of an artistic project to help spruce of Barrow town centre.

There are more than seven shops that are boarded up in Barrow’s Portland Walk, including the former Debenhams, Officers Club, River Island and Body Shop.

Contemporary artist Ian Kirkpatrick, who produced commissions for the London 2012 Olympics, the Tour de France and the Oxford Museum of Natural History, was chosen to design the murals that have been temporarily displayed on the street’s shop fronts.

Ian’s designs were inspired by a visit to Barrow where he spent time getting to know local history, as well as the borough’s people, industry and nature.

BarrowFull, who sourced the artist, are exploring the many different kinds of mural that can be created as part of the ‘Paint The Town’ project.

READ MORE: Ian Kirkpatrick created Portland Walk mural after funding

The project invites artists who approach murals in a variety of ways to visualise and celebrate the many different aspects of the town and enhance the spaces we share.

In early 2023, as part of Paint the Town, BarrowFull and Barrow Borough Council invited artists, collectives or companies to design and deliver a number of murals in the street.

A spokeswoman for BarrowFull said a number of artists have been brought in to help rejuvenate Barrow’s high streets.

She said: “Artist Billy Colours has worked with users of the Barrow Deaf centre and will be creating a mural with brushstrokes; The Northern Mural company is working with young people over the Easter Holidays to inform work to be done with spray painting effects at Barrow Skate Park, and the Portland Walk installations have been created using printed digital-art from artist Ian Kirkpatrick.”

Paul Hodgson, chairman of Barrow Business Improvement District, added: "The installation of the artwork is part of the wider Shared Prosperity Fund scheme which is being delivered as a partnership between Barrow BID and Barrow Borough Council. The project will also see the area being deep cleaned and planters installed to make the area a greener, brighter space."

Funding for the work was secured by Barrow Borough Council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the Government’s Levelling Up Agenda. The artwork will be in place for April 1 to coincide with the Festival of Colours, a unique celebration of diversity and creativity within the borough.

READ MORE: New creative project will bring life to Barrow's boarded-up shops

It was announced in January that BAE Systems Ltd had bought a number of retail units in Portland Walk, including the former Debenhams building, The Body Shop, WH Smith and The Sweet Emporium. These properties will also be used to display the artwork to maximise its impact on the streetscene. Once the buildings are occupied, the artwork will be moved to different locations across Barrow.