A STREET artist has teamed up with members of Erskine Youth Council to transform another underpass in the town. 

Tragic O’Hara first worked with the young people last year on a mural featuring American actor Danny DeVito which gave Rashielea underpass a vibrant new look. 

The latest artwork in Bargarran has also been designed by the youth council and is a scrapbook-style piece featuring elements of Erskine’s heritage, including a ticket stub for the Erskine Ferry.

Tragic painted the new mural by himself in one day, racing to finish it before Tier 4 restrictions kicked in across Renfrewshire, which meant he could no longer travel from his home in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.

He told The Gazette: “This has been on the cards since February but it’s only recently that I’ve been able to paint it because of everything that has happened.

“It was designed by the young folk and they put it out to the local community and they all kind of voted on the design they preferred.

“The Rashielea one was painted over a weekend but, because of Covid, we couldn’t do the same for this, although the young people were involved in the design process.

Tragic, who has been a youth worker since he was 18, also makes YouTube videos featuring his art and music.

He has painted all over Scotland, including a massive shark in Glasgow’s Argyle Street, and has held several exhibitions, as well as being a former artist-in-residence for South Ayrshire Council.

The 34-year-old now does regular commissioned pieces, along with working on creative projects with communities.

The partnership between the talented artist and Erskine Youth Council was formed last year after members spotted a mural on social media he had created on a community building in Paisley.

Tragic added: “When I was in Erskine, about 25 people stopped to talk to me and I had big conversations with them. Graffiti is a marmite thing and a lot of folk were really happy to see the mural being done.

“Underpasses don’t feel the safest of places, so it does help when there is something more than just grey there.”