Rochdale artist Hayley Garner involved with painting giant mural in Manchester

The mural being revealed to the public

Rochdale artist Hayley Garner has been involved with painting a giant mural in Manchester.

The mural, in Manchester’s gay village, is honouring the cities' most famous gay people including computer pioneer Alan Turing, suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, fashion designer Quentin Crisp and drag queen Foo Foo Lammar.

Hayley said: “I have absolutely loved doing it. It has been brilliant. I don’t think I have ever painted something this big before.”

The mural, which is 40 metres high and nine metres wide, has been painted on the side of bar The Molly House on Richmond Street and was chosen after a public competition organised by gay community group Queerchester.

“Queerchester wanted to show that there is an arts and culture side to the gay village and to show people that it is not just a place where people go to get drunk,” said Hayley.

The design of the mural incorporates artwork inspired by drag act Anna Phylactic and features winning artist Glenn Jones’ creation along with designs by runners up Lauren Jo Kelly, Adam Pryce and Mark Wallis.

The piece has been completed using spray paint.

Hayley added: “I have been working with spray paint professionally for about four years and before that I did a lot of canvas work with brushes and pens.”

Hayley has been working on the piece with artist Joy Gillerard from Leeds and says the piece has had a positive reaction after it’s unveiling on Sunday (28 September).

She added: “It has all been really positive. It has been really well received and we would definitely like to do another piece like this again. It is pretty epic so we would love to do something this big again.”