A celebrated street art and graffiti festival has returned to Glasgow’s SWG3 following a two-year hiatus.
The colourful Yardworks Festival has brought together urban artists from across the globe for a weekend of large-scale live painting.
The family-friendly event in the West End has featured interactive exhibits, food trucks, and a variety of artists to please the community audience.
Glasgow-based signwriter Rachel Millar, 29, spoke to the Glasgow Times while painting a mural in the Galvanizers Yard.
She said: “It’s been so fun to work alongside so many other artists with really varied designs.
“I think that’s been a really big part of this year – there has just been so many different styles.
“And also, a really good proportion of women painters as well as the graffiti lads.”
Mural artist Lewi Quinn, 31, added: “This is my first year at Yardworks, and it’s been really good.
“I feel like it’s a good opportunity for people who are kind of new to it as well.”
Lewi said it was nice to see what other artists are working with.
He added: “There’s a lot of people that have been doing it for years and they’re really impressive.”
Chelsea Frew, 29, an illustrator and founding member of female-led mural team Cobolt Collective, has painted at the last four festivals.
They said: “It’s not been on in two years so it’s really nice to be back and painting again. It’s majority sort of graffiti and street art but there’s always a variety of work.”
Gary Mackay, SWG3 studio director and Yardworks co-founder, said: "Being back in the swing of Yardworks Festival after such a long break, reconnecting with the artists and local communities is a great feeling.
“This year has been great due to funding received that has enabled us work with local communities, offer training for artists and begin a new mural trail through Yorkhill, Partick and Govan."
He added: "However, it’s not Yardworks without the festival here in the yard and thousands of people watching paint dry.
“We would like to thank all the funders that have made it possible to continue delivering a Yardworks programme through a pandemic. We are glad to be back.”
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