The north of England and Scotland is a creative place. Their bands and musicians rule the world, their actors grace the finest stages, and their artists always make a statement. So it’s no surprise to see the buildings and walls of the UK adorned with some of the finest and most creative street art found anywhere in the world. And now the world’s seeing it too through the power of Instagram. By tracking #streetart, Transpennine Express has revealed the top cities in the north of the UK for street art and the pieces and artists that are getting the Insta-love. You can see the top 5 pieces, including who painted them and where, below.

More info: tpexpress.co.uk

#1 Saint Mungo (Glasgow)

Image credits: www.instagram.com

Painted by the street artist Smug, and found on High Street, Glasgow. This piece of street art depicts what Saint Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, would look like in the 21st Century. With the lifelike detail and how it spans over the whole side of a building, it’s easy to see why this is Instragrammed so much.

#2 Fellow Glasgow Residents (Glasgow)

Image credits: www.instagram.com

Again painted by Smug but located at Ingram Street Car Park in Glasgow, this piece uses his signature colorful and highly detailed style to depict all of the animals and plant species local to the Glasgow area, including blue tits, red foxes, red squirrels and highland cows.

#3 For all Liverpool’s Liver Birds (Liverpool)

Image credits: www.instagram.com

Taking the number three spot is this piece by Paul Curtis on Jamaica Street in Liverpool. This piece depicts who large green wings, the perfect spot to take an Insta snap. When asked why he’s thought his street art was so Instagrammable, Paul Curtis had this to say: “I think many people like instagramming street art generally. For all Liverpool’s Liver Birds was done a few years ago (before the massive flood of wing murals that have flooded instagram), and I guess people like the interactivity of that and the fact that they become the star of the piece. I guess it works well. I get asked to come up with lots of new ideas for interactive pieces, but to be honest, its not always a good thing to do. I find that people just like a piece that makes them smile, or makes them think, or just looks beautiful on a building. Many people still love to be part of the photo, but many are happy just to photograph the street art as it is. All that matters is that they enjoy it, but it is nice when I see people photographing my other pieces which I think are technically better than the Liver Bird wings.”

#4 The Tyger (Manchester)

Image credits: www.instagram.com

Piece number 4 is by Jim Vision and located on Thomas Street in Manchester. This piece is inspired by the following poem:

The Tyger
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?”

#5 Liam Gallager (Manchester)

Image credits: www.instagram.com

Finally, piece 5 is by the street artist Akse, located at 8 Newton Street in Manchester. This piece depicts the famous mancunian Liam Gallager. Its easy to understand why this lifelike portrait is a firm favorite in Manchester, home to the band Oasis.

If you want to check out more of the UK’s most Instagrammed street art and find out where the street art capital of the north is, make sure to check out the Transpennine Express page for more: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/explore-the-north-and-scotland/blog/2019/august/street-art-capital-north-uk

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