Cllr David Welsh and Morag Myerscough in Hertford Street - Video and audio transcripts

Hi, I’m Councillor David Welsh, I’m the cabinet member for housing and communities. I’m here to talk about Hertford Street and the great work that has gone on here. I’ve got Morag Myerscough and this is the artist who created the space, so I’m just going to talk to her about what’s been going on. So, Morag, I’m really impressed with Hertford Street, I think it looks amazing. Do you want to tell me a little bit behind your inspiration and your thoughts behind creating this space?  

Morag: So I came here last February before the pandemic and we went to see the Cathedral and I absolutely love that stained glass by John Piper in the Cathedral, and so that was one of the inspirations of the piece. I felt that there was a want for colour here as well and to get it out on the streets. It’s beautiful in the Cathedral but to actually get it out onto the streets! 

David: And what I would say here is that I’ve noticed since we’ve done the painting here, people used to walk through here and they used to look at the ground and they used to not look up until they got to Broadgate but actually now people come in here, they stop, they talk about it, they’re looking up at the colours here. So, I’m really really impressed with what’s gone on. 

Morag: Thank you and it was a dream, actually, to be given this massive vaulted ceiling with natural light and then we just put the colours on and it was like magic, it just pools around the space, and even when the weather’s not great, it still has a glow about it. Hopefully it makes people feel uplifted. 

David: Thank you so much for coming today. Thanks so much for doing this amazing piece of artwork. 

Morag: Thank you very much and thank you for getting me to do it, because I have really enjoyed it – and I love the response!