AN ARTIST has helped to revitalise a neglected section of footpath in Chester with a series of colourful murals.

Nikki Pinder’s projects have seen her artwork featured on cable boxes in Chester, and even a school bus at William Stockton Primary in Ellesmere Port, but her latest work saw her transform a trio of bollards on Foxes Walk, Great Boughton, into nature-inspired pieces.

Approached by resident and commercial director of M Landscape, Morgan Bailey, the artist applied her designs to the bollards as the area was brought back to life between June and July.

Morgan arranged for a section of the cut-through which connects Foxes Way to a footpath into Caldy Nature Park to be retarmacked.

Before.Before. (Image: Nikki Pinder)

The section had become run-down and would regularly flood with water and this was repaired and levelled before contacting Nikki who painstakingly converted the bollards from dull and dreary into three unique and colourful artworks.

Each bollard took in excess of 10 hours to finish.

Morgan, who uses the path when walking his dogs, said: “It was the [painted BT] boxes in town that gave me the idea.

“We thought we’d retarmac the area, because it’s used regularly, and we’d also brighten it up.

“A lot of residents and the local dogwalkers are really pleased and can enjoy the area now.

“I’m sure Nikki will be doing more, and maybe it will encourage the parish council to upgrade more areas in this way.”

(Image: Nikki Pinder)

This project presented a unique set of challenges for Nikki, who adapted a set of designs depicting a kingfisher, a fox and a woodpecker onto the bollards, alongside insects, plants and flowers.

Nikki said: “Each time you approach a different shape and object, you’re learning how to work with the surface.

“I had to think about how to adjust a flat design onto a rounded surface and with the kingfisher, the bollard was at an angle, so I also added the perch.

“The woodpecker was more intricate so that took a bit longer and each needed several layers of paint.”

(Image: MD)

Nikki was inspired to pick these animals after discussions with friends in the area.

“The first point of inspiration was speaking with [Morgan’s wife] Jenny who said she’d seen a kingfisher in Caldy Valley and I thought what a lovely bird that would be to paint.

“I wanted to capture the flash of blue and the bright colours.

“The woodpecker, my friend saw when running in Caldy Valley, and few people also mentioned a family of foxes that have been seen nearby.”

“It was important to me that people could see the creatures that they’ve spotted and for those who’ve not seen them to maybe discover more about their local environment.”

On the process to create the display, Nikki added: “It was lovely.

“People were really excited because the first stage was to paint them with a white primer and I think because people had seen the work [in Chester city centre] they had an idea of what might be happening but they weren’t expecting it to be here.

“Some people said ‘I visit here everyday just to see how they’re progressing’ and it was great to hear how much they appreciated and enjoyed the work.”

For more information on Nikki's work, visit www.nikkipinder.co.uk or go to @nikkipinderart on Instagram.