The seven saints of St. Paul’s Bristol art trail


This month millions of people have been forced to flee Ukraine by the Russian invasion and have had to seek sanctuary in a foreign land. As we watch the terrible scenes unfold on our television screens it is important that we reflect on some of the difficulties that they are likely to face and how we can help them to settle into a strange land.

Immigration is nothing new.

In the aftermath of the second world war millions of displaced people were forced to build new lives far from home. In Britain one group found it particularly difficult to gain acceptance. Many young people and families came to England from the West Indies in the hope of a better life, to gain professional qualifications or to obtain a better education for their children. The Windrush generation faced widespread discrimination and found it difficult to get jobs and housing.

In Bristol many West Indian families settled in the St. Paul’s area of East Bristol. As you would expect from a city famous for its street art the area has many examples of street art and graffiti that represent cultural diversity.

The Seven Saints art trail is a series of vibrant murals depicting some of the key figures who helped bring the community together. They were ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, working for equality, acceptance and inclusion.

Together they helped organise the St. Paul’s carnival and the Bristol bus boycott. They formed organisations like the West Indian parents and friends association and the united housing association. Their struggles strengthened the community and offered assistance at a time when it wasn’t forthcoming from the state.

The Art trail

The murals are the work of Michele Curtis, an East Bristol artist. The project took her four years and marked the 50th anniversary of the St. Paul’s carnival. It is a tribute to the love the locals have for these portraits that unlike much of Bristol street art they have never been vandalised.

Once seven suitable walls were chosen and permission granted to do the work, Michele set about scaling her portraits into large murals. This involved mapping the wall itself fitting the portrait on to it and designing the rest of the mural round it. At night Michele and her team projected the murals on to the walls and sketched round it using ladders and cherry pickers. They returned in the daylight with lots and lots of paint.

Carmen Beckford

Carmen was born in Jamaica. At 17 she traveled to the UK and trained to become a nurse. After working as a nurse and a midwife she became the first community development officer for Bristol and was the first black woman in the South West to receive an M.B.E. from the queen.

Audley Evans

Audley Evans came to Bristol from Jamaica with his wife Delores. He became active in the Bristol civil rights movement. He was a member of the West Indian Development C0mmittee and the Bristol West Indian Parent and friends association. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Bristol West Indian Cricket team.

Clifford Drummond

Clifford Drummond outside his cafe. One of the seven saints of St. Paul's

Clifford Drummond was also born in Jamaica. He and his wife Mavis moved to Bristol in 1954. They ran several businesses including a cafe where they were able to help their customers with legal matters.

Owen Henry

Owen Henry founded the first black-owned travel agency in Bristol. This enabled local people to go home to visit friends and family in the West Indies. After the St. Paul riots he became a member of the voluntary police liaison committee and the Bristol racial equality council. In 1979 the Jamaican Prime Minister awarded Owenthe order of Merit.

Delores Cambell

Delores helped found the United housing association. She also fostered more than thirty children.

Barbara Dettering

Portrait of Barbara Dettering. Text reads I saw a group of people, black people doing something for themselves and I wanted to be part of that group

She came to Bristol from Guyana and worked as a social worker. She formed the sick and disabled visiting committee to visit members of the community in care homes and hospitals.

Roy Hackett

Roy Hackett helped organise the Bristol bus boycott. He served on numerous committees. He also helped run the Bamboo Club which hosted bands like Bob Marley and the Wailers.

This post has been added to the photographing public art challenge run by Marsha Ingrao

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10 responses to “The seven saints of St. Paul’s Bristol art trail”

  1. These are beautiful and love the detail around it like the flowers and fruits. It’s so lively!

  2. Wow! These murals are lovely, and also provide a valuable insight in to the history of the area.

  3. AMAZING! What a wonderful art trail, I love the stories behind each one and they look incredible.

  4. Anne, these are some of the most moving murals I have seen. I love that they have honored such deserving people. What a wonderful lesson in history and social studies you have provided for all of your readers. Excellent!