Kingfisher and Gribbin Head brighten Par pumping station

Drivers heading through Par have a new reason to glance sideways. The South West Water pumping station opposite Par Dockyard and Imerys, once a plain box on a busy main road, now carries a mural of Cornish landmarks and wildlife painted by a local artist in a single working day.

A familiar site gets a rethink

The pumping station sits on a road travelled by thousands of people every week, and it is passed on foot too, along the coastal path between Par and Mevagissey. It has long been a focal point for the community. After comments about how the building looked, South West Water’s teams decided to try something other than a fresh coat of paint.

Rather than simply repainting the exterior, they wanted something that would add interest and reflect the character of the surrounding area, so they reached out to a local artist for help. The company commissioned Cornish-based artist Sumo Graffiti Art to transform the station, and the work was finished in just eight hours.

📷Par Sewage Pumping Station before the mural was completed

What is on the wall

The mural brings elements of Cornwall’s coastline and natural environment to the site. It features local landmarks and wildlife, including Gribbin Head and a kingfisher.

Connor Vincent, Pumping Station Asset Manager for Par, said: “We’re really grateful to Sumo for transforming Par Pumping Station into a welcoming sight for residents and visitors to Par. This stunning mural celebrates the very best Par and its surrounding areas have to offer and we’ve had a fantastic response from the community to our new and improved pumping station.”

Sumo, resident artist at Oberi Art, added: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to South West Water for commissioning the mural and to the huge amount of support shown by passers-by while I was creating it. I hope it brings smiles to anyone who sees it.”

📷The new mural at Par Sewage Pumping Station