Over the summer, people from all across the Garnock Valley came together to create a brand-new community mural right in the centre of Kilbirnie. The project, led by the Garnock Valley Locality team with support from volunteers of all ages, was designed in partnership with Impact Arts after their fun “Paint and Pie” pop-up sessions earlier in the year.
The mural was officially unveiled on Tuesday 2nd September by North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson, who praised everyone involved for their creativity, hard work, and community spirit (and, of course, for the pies that kept people coming back each week!).
Before this project, the wall on Main Street near Radio City was just an abandoned, empty space. Now, thanks to artist Nicola McGuigan and all the volunteers, it’s been completely transformed into something bright, colourful, and meaningful to the community.
The mural is called “On the Up” and celebrates both Kilbirnie’s history and its future. It includes a spool of linen thread to represent the town’s connection to flax farming and W & J Knox’s history of linen production. There’s also a “fish lady” as a nod to the company’s long tradition of repairing fishing nets, plus the War Memorial arch, Kilbirnie Loch, the local statue of Hygieia (the goddess of health), and even a wheelbarrow of vegetables from The Wee School Pantry community larder.
Rhyan Gorrie, from Garnock Valley Youth Forum, said how much he and his friends enjoyed volunteering for the project, and how proud they are of a mural that celebrates Kilbirnie’s past and shows the community working together for the future.
Councillor Alan Hill also shared his thanks to everyone who got involved, saying this mural is a great example of how local people can come together to take pride in their town and bring colour back to forgotten places.
Artist Nikki McGuigan, who helped lead the design, explained how much she loved seeing people of all ages getting stuck into painting. She said the idea for the tagline “On the Up” came from asking locals to describe Kilbirnie in three words, and it perfectly captured the positive energy of the project.
Impact Arts Programme Manager Amanda Munro added that this mural is exactly what their work is about — using creativity to bring people together, build confidence, and brighten up communities.
Now, the once-derelict space has become a colourful landmark, full of history, pride, and hope for the future of Kilbirnie.
By Karis Harwood
