Art - Playground mural unveiled

18th February 2011, 12:00am

Pupils at an Edinburgh primary have unveiled a giant playground mural inspired by the work of the artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.

The mural is based on mosaic, screen printing, pop art and collage artwork by three of the children at the school - Elise Kemp (P2), Unzala Ali (P6) and Lizzie Robertson-Grier (P7).

It was created as part of a joint project between Leith Walk Primary and Newhaven Advertising Agency, whose building backs onto the playground. The mural was officially unveiled by the artist’s sister, Yolanda Tartaglia, earlier this month.

The artist, who died in 2005, was born in Leith and was a former pupil of the school.

Edinburgh City Council’s education leader, Marilyne MacLaren, who attended the event, said: “We want to encourage and inspire creativity in all our learners, and this amazingly detailed mural is a wonderful example of this.”

Leith Walk Primary’s headteacher Stewart Crabb said: “Through learning about our famous former pupil, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, all the children in the school have been inspired to create their own visual interpretation of his work, based on his own pioneering techniques.”