AN artist has worked with a group of young people to brighten up a subway with a huge insect-inspired mural.

Fred Fieber, 64, put the finishing touches on the artwork in the St Ann Street subway on Thursday by adding the last coat of anti-graffiti paint.

He teamed up on the project with Splash, a branch of the Wiltshire Community First group that works with young people facing challenges in their lives.

Fred has worked on similar murals in the past, diving into a river-themed artwork beneath Exeter Street and stepping back in time at the Milford Street bridge.

His new artwork primarily features butterflies – the numbers of which hit a record low in the UK this year – plus some bees and dragonflies.

Fred at the work-in-progress mural (Image: Newsquest) “Sven Hocking, the current mayor, was pressing for the subway to be sorted out – it was a pretty depressing place,” said Fred.

“I designed it, and then the designs went back and forth a few times with the young people until they were finalised.

“The butterflies were my idea, and the young people liked it. Then it was a case of getting it done before the winter, because we couldn't do it if it was wet.

“The local people who have been going through have been very welcoming of it.”

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In total, the mural took three weeks to paint with help from around 10 youngsters.

Fred said: “We wanted something big, bold and bright, which is why we went with butterflies.

“We’ve heard this year that they are in serious decline, so we wanted to get across a message that we need to look after them.

“We’re pleased with how it turned out. A lot of people go through the subway, and the feedback we’ve received is 100 per cent favourable.”

Salisbury mayor Sven Hocking said: “The St Ann Street mural is part of a project which I am driving, along with several other local groups, to improve the look and feel of all the city underpasses. 

“The St Ann street tunnel art was funded by mainly by the Salisbury Area Board and Youth Action Wiltshire who used funding from Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

“A local artist, Fred Fieber, did the amazing design and worked with some local young people who did a brilliant job to paint out the subway. 

“A huge thank you from me to all involved and we’ll see where we go from here.”