North Shields 800 Mural Trail

A - Start At The Beacon Car Park

From The Beacon car park you can follow the route in any direction using our handy map.

B. The Spirit Of Shields

The Spirit of Shields, painted on the red brick changing rooms at North Shields Football Club, brings a vivid splash of coastal identity to the town. A modern fishing trawler cuts through the rough North Sea while the glow of the Fish Quay rises beside it. The mural ties together past and present and stands as a tribute to the hard working spirit of Shields folk whose lives have always been shaped by the sea.

Artist - Mark One87

C. The Siren

The Siren rises from the gable-end wall of the old Hundred Pub on Albion Road, making itself impossible to ignore. Black and white swirls of imagery speak of the sea, the women standing behind Shields' fishing heritage, the grit and intimacy of life by the shore. It honours both a past that resonates in every salted wind and a present reshaping itself in brick and paint. Anchored in local memory The Siren isn't just a mural to look at; it's a story you walk past every day and feel part of.

Artist - Prefab77

D. North Shields No.4

On Trevor Terrace beside The Gunner you will find North Shields No4. The mural takes its cue from the back lanes and corners of the town, places that are usually passed by without a second glance. Everyday life is captured on a large scale with a warmth that makes you stop and look again. Over time the paint will weather and settle into the brick so it becomes part of the street, a reminder that Shields' character lives as much in the ordinary as in the big landmarks.

Artist - Anthony Downie

E. I Beg That Sound

On Brandling Terrace by the old Cliffs Bakery and now Arbor Seven cafe, you will spot I Beg That Sound. The mural bursts with bold letters from a Sam Fender lyric. It also tips its hat to the Shields music scene from The Animals and Lindisfarne through to the bands and singers playing in the pubs today. It is a bright splash that ties music and the town together.

Artist - Ricky Also

F. Oceanus

On Tanners Bank facing the river there is a mural called Oceanus mixing together myth, sea and local history. Oceanus is shown as both human and fish with a nod to Roman stories tied to the Tyne. The work hints at old river gods and Shields' long bond with the water. Painted across the 55° Fisheries building it catches the eye and reminds you that the river has always carried more than boats.

Artist - KMG

G. Net Worth

On the gable end of Lin's Seafoods at the Fish Quay you'll find the mural Net Worth. It shows a steely-eyed fisherman standing proud defending his industry and heritage. If you walk closer you'll spot the seagull wearing a balaclava they call the 'Coastal Terrorist and chipsnatcher.' It carries a political undercurrent too reflecting the artist's views on Brexit. There are loads of little details to spot in this artwork.

Artist - Prefab77

H. The Chase

On Norfolk Street at the bottom end you will spot The Chase depicting seabirds diving into a swirl of water while fish scatter in every direction. Two gannets and a cormorant go after a herring with seaweed and waves curling round them. These are birds and fish you see off our coast so it feels close to home. These are birds and fish you see off our own coast so it feels familiar straight away. It is a bright mural that catches the eye as you head past.

Artist - Nina Valkhoff

The whole route is around 6km and at a leisurely stroll can take you a few hours to complete. If you want to shorten it, then park at North Shields FC to bag The Spirit Of Shields and then park up back at The Beacon or the coast for the rest of them.

For more information on the North Shields 800 Mural Trail head over to Elevation and North Shields 800.