Following a competitive artist selection process that attracted submissions from 14 artists, Perranzabuloe Parish Council is pleased to announce the appointment of mural artist Mark Anthony to create a new public artwork for Perranporth Community Library.
Artists were invited to submit designs for a mural to be created on the exterior wall of Perranporth Community Library, drawing inspiration from the unique landscape of Penhale Sands and its nationally rare butterflies, while also reflecting the library setting through the inclusion of children and books. The Parish Council received a strong and diverse range of submissions, making the selection process both thorough and highly competitive.
Parish Councillor Peter Gaisford was a member of the small panel of local people who chose the artist and recommended his appointment to Perranzabuloe Parish Council. Cllr Gaisford said, “The standard of entries was extremely high, and the panel had the difficult task of selecting a single design from a strong and diverse range of submissions. The Parish Council is keen to support projects that enhance our public spaces, celebrate our local heritage and create opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with art. We look forward to seeing Mark’s design brought to life.”
Local amateur naturalist, Tristram Besterman, who came up with the idea, said, “I am very grateful to Perranzabuloe Parish Council for their wholehearted support for this project and look forward to working with Mark Anthony on the mural. He has a wonderful eye for nature and knows just how to create a mural with maximum impact. His image will ‘capture’ two nationally rare and beautiful species of butterfly, and bring them down from the nearby dunes into Perranporth town centre. By making children and books part of the story, the mural will celebrate the town’s natural heritage.”
Mark Anthony is a well-established mural artist, who specialises in true-to-life images of plants and animals. Mark said, “My work celebrates biodiversity and community, so I am delighted to have been appointed to make this mural. I hope it will become a landmark for local people to be proud of and for visitors to enjoy for many years to come.” Town Clerk Amanda Coleman added, “From the outset, this project demonstrated the potential to create an engaging and accessible piece of public art that reflects Perranporth’s unique natural heritage. I have greatly valued the opportunity to work with Tristram Besterman, whose enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment have helped shape the project from its earliest stages. The Parish Council is particularly grateful that he has generously volunteered his time to support the project and help bring this vision to life. We are also very grateful for the support of FEAST, part of Creative Kernow. The project has also been funded by Perranzabuloe Parish Council, demonstrating the Parish Council’s commitment to investing in high-quality public art and enhancing community spaces.”
Contact for further details: Tristram Besterman (project co-ordination) on 07796 660057 and t.besterman@gmail.com
The work is due to start shortly and will be completed by the end of September 2026.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The mural artist: Mark Anthony of ATM Artist YouTube and website
A unique landscape
The setting for the mural is Penhale Sands, a vast dune system that stretches along the coast from Perranporth northwards to Holywell. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. Its protected status reflects its importance as one of the most pristine dune systems in the south west, and home to rare species of butterfly. The dunes’ rolling wildflower-rich grasslands, with St Pirran’s Cross, will form the backdrop of the mural.
Rare butterflies
There are two nationally rare and endangered species of butterfly resident on Penhale Sands: the spectacular Silver-studded Blue and the Grizzled Skipper. They are both dependent on particular plants on which their caterpillars feed, and the Silver-studded Blue needs a species of black ant to complete its life cycle. The butterfly literally emerges from below ground to spread its wings.
The Silver-studded Blue butterfly on Penhale Sands
The Grizzled Skipper butterfly on Penhale Sands
