Dundee’s reputation for beautiful street art is partly thanks to Open/Close, which has devised a number of self-guided trails through areas including the city centre.
Urban art project Open/Close Dundee has commissioned dozens of murals across the city since 2017 in a bid to brighten up neglected areas.
The group’s trails, which also include Stobswell and Lochee, are popular with locals and tourists alike.
So, after forking out £3 for a map at the McManus – you can also find them at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), V&A Dundee and Brewdog – DC Thomson photographer Kim Cessford and I hit the streets.
A free digital version is available on the Open/Close Dundee website.
We opted for the city centre trail, which showcases 13 murals and is said to take around one hour on foot.
1. Kirsty Whiten and Fandangoe Kid
The Open/Close Dundee city centre street art trail gets off to a strong start with this stunning piece by Kirsty Whiten and Fandangoe Kid on Tay Street.
The 28ft artwork, entitled We are not the Sum of our Trauma, is situated behind everybody’s favourite pub, The Phoenix, making it easy to find.
The painting, created in 2019, was facilitated by Open/Close Dundee and funded through crowdfunding.
2. Sofia Sita
Next up, we have The Dreamer, by Italian artist Sofia Sita, who regularly illustrates for magazines such as The Skinny and La Stampa.
Situated on Greenmarket, this one is located right behind the DCA.
The colourful piece is inspired by Dundee – “the small city that dares to dream big”. This sweet backstory makes it one of my favourites.
3. Syke
We then make our way to the historic Couttie’s Wynd, where, conveniently, there are five artworks.
The first one we come across is a tribute to Vincent van Gogh, painted by popular Dundee graffiti artist Syke.
The recreation of Starry Night is bold, beautiful and instantly recognisable.
4. Gregor Thomson
Also situated on Couttie’s Wynd is Gregor Thomson’s Manic Precision.
According to Open/Close Dundee, the young artist became “obsessed” with making patterns as a way to cope with anxiety during his time at Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD).
It’s a unique and haunting piece. Unfortunately, along with a few others on the trail, it has been vandalised.
It’s a shame to see some of the artworks damaged, when one of Open/Close Dundee’s hopes was that they would help to prevent vandalism. But it’s possible the problem could be worse without them.
5. Birkhill Primary School
Two doors on the street also feature artworks by the P7 class of 2022 from Birkhill Primary School.
These colourful patchwork-like creations feature everything from giraffes to psychedelic mushrooms.
The mosaics resemble stained-glass windows and succeed in brightening up the shadowy alleyway, which you probably wouldn’t want to visit after dark.
6. Whimsical Lush
The final Open/Close Dundee piece on Couttie’s Wynd is a quirky piece by Suzanne Scott, aka WhimSicAL LusH.
The vibrant yellow, pink and blue design is inspired by the Dundee Design Festival windows of 2017, which celebrated the city’s past and present.
Although it has been targeted by spray-paint vandals, its cheery colours still shine through.
7. Paco Graff
We make our way to New Inn Entry, alongside the Keillor Centre, where there are two pieces to see.
The first is a lovely depiction of a kingfisher by Dundee graffiti artist Paco Graff, who is said to appreciate the striking bright blue and orange colours of the bird.
Whether you’re a wildlife lover or not, there’s no doubt it is a lovely addition to the concrete close.
8. Diane Selbie
Adjacent to the Keillor Centre is a celebration of Dundee’s history with marmalade, created by Diane Selbie.
The shopping centre is named after the famous Dundee marmalade manufacturer and gave the painter the inspiration for her design.
This is one of my favourites on the trail – probably because I have one of those wee jars on my mantlepiece at home, and I can confirm it makes a great vase.
9. Isla Valentine Wade
Onwards, we head to Commercial Street to check out Isla Valentine Wade’s mural.
The blue artwork is in keeping with her colour-focused abstractions, which, according to Open/Close Dundee, often place emphasis on the “detached meaning of words”.
I decide this piece wouldn’t look out of place in a modern art gallery.
10. John Fraser
Next, situated on Cameron’s Close, is an image of artist John Fraser’s own tattooed hand.
The Dundee-born painter has completed numerous commissions, from nightclubs to nurseries, and covers a range of subjects.
This slightly dark and edgy piece doesn’t necessarily “brighten up” the area, but it provides a nice contrast to some of the other pieces on the trail.
11. Lindsey Brown
Also on Cameron’s Close is a drawing of an eagle owl by Lindsey Brown, who graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art.
The artist, who usually creates owl artwork on a much smaller scale, used a thick acrylic pen to draw this piece.
I imagine this would be a frightening one to happen across at night. Those eyes!
12. El Rughi
Circling back to New Inn Entry (it makes sense when you’re following the map), we find this futuristic piece by Barcelona-based Italian artist and tattooist El Rughi.
Known for creating fantastical scenes based on cartoon imagery, he was invited to come and paint in Dundee as part of a worldwide competition run by Wallspot.
This is photographer Kim’s favourite piece, as it reminds him of a trip to Tokyo and the Japanese culture.
13. Rogue One
Finally, we visit the William Gardiner mural behind the Overgate.
William Gardiner was a famous poet, author and botanist born in Dundee in 1809.
The botanical artwork was created by Scottish photo-realistic spray artist Robert McNamara, aka Rogue One.
It’s a colourful, beautiful piece I often admire on my visits to the Overgate, and a great note to end the tour on.
Would I recommend the Open/Close Dundee City Centre Trail?
I would definitely recommend the Open/Close Dundee City Centre street art trail.
The thoughtfully designed tour is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon and explore new corners of the city.
It would be great to see some of the damaged pieces refreshed at some point – which does appear to be an ambition of Open/Close Dundee.
In the meantime, I’ll be checking out the Stobswell and Lochee trails.
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