Peterborough street artists' mural offers glimpse of the past

Artists Nathan Murdoch and Tony Nero are re-creating an image of a 1908 street scene on the side of a barber shop in Peterborough

Two street painters are giving passers-by a giant glimpse of Peterborough's past.

Artists Nathan Murdoch and Tony Nero are creating a mural of a 116-year-old street scene - on the side of a barber shop in Cowgate.

The painting, a recreation of a 1908 image of Cowgate, was commissioned by a not-for-profit company which represents Peterborough businesses.

Mr Murdoch and Mr Nero aim to finish this week.

Peterborough Positive, the "business improvement district (BID) campaign", asked the artists, who both live in the city, to create the 23ft-high (seven metre) mural on the side of the Head2Head barber shop.

The BID's chief operating officer Pep Cipriano got the idea after seeing 1908 photograph of Cowgate on a postcard.

"I've always wanted to bring some life to this wall and when I saw a photograph of how Cowgate once was, I immediately imagined it being reproduced on a larger scale for everyone to appreciate," said Mr Cipriano.

"The mural will not only pay tribute to our past, but will also be an eye-catching and detailed piece of art that adds to the visual appeal of Cowgate."

A photograph of the image of the 1908 scene which inspired the mural

Mr Murdoch, 38, said he was spray-painting while Mr Nero, 67, was using brushes.

"We're painting in black and white and grey," he said.

"I asked Tony to help because I wanted to bring a sort of fine art effect to it - I can't do that with a spray.

"It seems to be popular. Lots of people are honking their horns and so on as they pass."

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Mr Cipriano did not want to say how much to mural was costing.

He said taxpayers' money was not being spent.

Last year Mr Murdoch created artwork inspired by young people's sketches sent in form more than seven Peterborough schools

Last year, Mr Murdoch created another mural in Peterborough inspired by voices and stories from young people in lockdown.

The artwork, on Fairmeadow car park subway, was commissioned by Young People's Counselling Services in partnership with Peterborough City Council and Youth Inspired.