Newtownards Road Hicks 54 (OLD)

This large mural covers the gable wall of a building on the Newtownards Road and combines a bold central figure with an imagined rural landscape. The main focus is a young woman walking through the scene, shown wearing a dark jacket decorated with badges, a striped top, scarf and cross-body bag. Her relaxed pose and closed-eyed expression give the figure a calm, reflective feel, while her clothing and styling give the mural a contemporary, urban character.
Behind her, the wall opens into a broad countryside scene made up of rolling green hills, cultivated fields, trees and a winding blue river or stream. Large pale clouds fill much of the upper wall, with scattered leaves appearing to blow across the sky. The landscape is painted in layered greens, blues and earthy tones, creating a strong contrast with the figure in the foreground. On the left side, a hand-painted sign reads “NEWTOWNARDS ROAD”, firmly connecting the artwork to its location.
The mural continues across the adjoining lower building, where the imagery becomes more abstract and botanical. Large leaves, branches and plant forms stretch along the wall, helping to blend the painted scene into the surrounding overgrown grass and vegetation.
Overall, the mural brings together urban identity and natural imagery, transforming the building into a colourful landscape. Its combination of a modern human figure, local place-name and countryside scenery gives the work a distinctive sense of movement, place and connection with the environment.