Brewers Woking Donates Paint to Remembrance Tree Mural

Brewers Decorator Centre Woking donated all the paint and varnish required to complete a remembrance tree mural celebrating the lives lost during the pandemic and give hope for the future.

Greenman Tree Care who are based in Ottershaw founded the project as they donated log slices for local children to decorate over the pandemic, which became symbols of remembrance and hope. Nursery nurse, Sarah Dunstall wanted to take the children’s art and create a mural encompassing the log slices into a beautiful piece. 

Illustrator and artist Beth Cole was given the task of creating a tree inspired by The Gruffalo illustrations, so the piece had a child-like, whimsical feel. Beth also wanted to incorporate the community in her design, so reached out to ask what insects and animals should be included in the piece. From a beautiful badger to the incredibly rare Welsh Longhorn Beetles, children can come to see the mural and take the time to spot all the different creatures.

"I loved working on the little details. Painting in the butterflies, snails and beetles as well as hidden four-leaf-clovers was a fun process, particularly as the idea came for it to be an I-Spy game for hospital staff and visitors. It has felt like a collaboration with all the young artists and hospital staff suggesting creatures they'd like to see. Seeing the finished mural with the wood pennies attached really brought out the vibrancy of everyone's contributions." Said Beth.

John at Brewers Woking provided Beth with an Albany colour card, so she was able to choose the perfect colours for the piece. Two tins of Albany Vinyl Matt were donated for the main colours, and sample pots donated for the finer details. Decorators Varnish was also donated to ensure the mural will stand the test of time.

Other local businesses also donated materials for the creation of the mural including the MDF board to paint on by Allaways Timber Merchant, Byfleet, wood dyes were donated to the project by Simon of Ron Hayes and Son, NewHaw, and a local carpenter donated the glue to fix the wooden slices to the finished mural. The final piece is now on display at St Peter’s Hospital Maternity Unit, Chertsey, Surrey to remember and celebrate the lives lost in the local community.