Press Release: Stockton Zak Newton's legacy is restored by a new hand

‘AN ARTIST inspired by vintage travel posters has restored a piece of artwork situated at the heart of a town's cultural hub.

Graphic artist Abby Taylor, from Stockton, set to work on the mural of Saint George the Dragon Slayer, a painting which hangs in the town's Green Dragon Yard.

The mural was originally created for the Georgian courtyard by local artist Zak Newton who passed away in 2013 but left behind a legacy of commemorative murals across the town.

In recent years, however, Mr Newton's Saint George has fallen into disrepair.

"One of the many features of the Green Dragon Yard that I have always enjoyed is the mural of Saint George the Dragon Slayer," said Ms Taylor, who creates vintage-like posters of regional landmarks.

"Sadly, over the years this beautiful mural has fallen into disrepair. The frame was coming away from the wall and sections of the mural were flaking away altogether.

"The restoration was quite a challenge, as many areas of the mural had faded completely, but I had loads of fun playing 'forensic art analyst' and reconstructing the face of Saint George the Dragon Slayer and putting a bit of my soul into the restored mural."

Ms Taylor was commissioned and chosen by Stockton BID to be the mural's official restoration artist.

Ms Taylor added: "I was delighted when local initiative Stockton BID enlisted me as the official 'restoration artist' for the mural.

"Stockton BID is a partnership between local businesses and organisations with the ultimate aim to make a difference to the town centre, and the Green Dragon mural is a perfect example of a corner of Stockton that urgently needed some TLC.

"This was also an opportunity to better signpost the yard by including the text, Green Dragon Yard, which is a beautiful courtyard of repurposed historic warehouses and Georgian alleyways and houses the Green Dragon Studios, Green Dragon Pub and the newly renovated Georgian Theatre."

Jason Maxwell, Manager at Stockton BID, said: “We have worked with Abby on a project to update an old piece of art for our town centre.

She is super talented and very creative. She has done an amazing job and I am really proud of what she has produced for us.”

- Article by Paige McDermott for The Northern Echo

Press Releases were also published in Stockton & Darlington Times and Stockton & Billingham Life.