Penny Lane is in my eyes for a boost, says artist
Penny Lane, to quote Paul McCartney's famous line, is always in Liverpool artist Susannah-Rachel Gorman's ears... and in her eyes.
She can see the famous road sign - and hordes of Beatles fans from around the world who are drawn to the road immortalised by the song - from her house.
Every day Susannah-Rachel and her small children wave at the Magical Mystery Tour bus as it passes by, but she says many of those on board seem a bit underwhelmed.
Now she is hoping some of her art will not only give visitors more of a reason to pause in the area for a few minutes and take some pictures, but also to kickstart a wider regeneration programme.
"I love The Beatles and I love the area," she said. "This could be the start of something fantastic."
Standing next to a bus shelter in the middle of the roundabout made famous in the Fab Four's 1967 hit song is a derelict building.
Sgt Pepper’s Bistro has lain empty for decades but the building's owner, Ray Maatook, said he had a franchise café brand interested in bringing it back to life.
Acknowledging some "logistical problems" which first needed to be overcome, Mr Maatook explained: "My aim is to do something good if I can, but it is going to take some time."
"We would really like to see this building developed and put back into use," agreed local Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Kemp. "But in the meantime it will look better and tell the story of the five verses of the famous Beatles song."
He was referring to Susannah-Rachel's artwork displayed in the empty bistro’s window panels.
Mr Kemp said an appeal would be launched after Christmas for funding which he hoped would further improve Penny Lane.
He said his aim was to "provide enhanced facilities for all local people and visitors to the most famous lane in the world!"
Firefighters, a barber and a nurse selling poppies are among the immortal Penny Lane characters captured in her work.
"My brief for the art work was very clear," said Susannah-Rachel. "All the panels feature characters and places from the lyrics of Penny Lane, but I have hidden some 'easter eggs' like the octopus from Octopus's Garden in there too!"
Kath McGuire, who founded the Penny Lane Wombles community group which organises regular litter picks, spends hours walking around the area with her dog Rita.
"The feedback to the artwork has already been brilliant," she said. "We’ve had beeps from the buses going past and people taking videos."
Kath said she was excited about other plans for the area, including seating by John Lennon’s peace statue and a busking pitch at the side of the bus terminus.
Most importantly, she loves the idea of maps being installed to highlight iconic Beatles locations.
While doing her best to give tourists a better experience, Kath acknowledges she and her fellow volunteers can only do so much.
"At the moment I am laminating maps myself and putting them on the railings," she says.
"There’s a lot of money floating around with Beatles fans. If we can generate it and put it back into the community, it’s a win-win."
