AN IDEA to paint colourful murals on the ends of unsightly buildings in Dunfermline has been supported by the curator of Fire Station Creative.

Ian Moir, who is also a director of the arts hub, had proposed his own plan for a 40-foot piece on the prominent gable end wall of The Ball Room at 25 Queen Anne Street back in 2019, though wasn't able to turn it into a reality.

Now, he says that a call, as reported in the Press last week, from West Fife's Scottish Green Party group to urge Fife Council to invest in local artists to help brighten up tired and empty spaces would be a "relatively inexpensive solution to a problem".

He said: "I was pleased to see the article in the Press.

"I went on a journey myself a couple of years ago but I wasn't able to succeed.

"I would be generally supportive of anyone planning something like this and would be happy to advise or support."

His 2019 application would have seen a large heritage piece celebrating the famous Scots poem, 'The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens', painted in the city centre, although the spot near the bus station hadn't been his first choice and he was unable to go ahead with the planned painting, created by Dunfermline artist Jonny Hannah, in either of his preferred locations.

He explained: "There was a gable end opposite the Old Inn and the building was co-owned by a legal firm and Fife Council.

"I got permission from both but was advised to back off the idea as it was too near the Abbey and heritage area.

"I went on to the gable end at the pool hall and initially the owner gave permission and I applied for planning and it was more or less granted, they were getting ready to approve it, and then the owners changed their mind.

"It is quite a long process and I would be happy to help people get a bit of a shortcut."

He believes that if any project was to succeed, an effort to use local artists who understand the area would be needed.

Ian added: "The community of artists in Dunfermline is there – artists support other artists so it might be that you have one who does the design then more supporting.

"The secret to success is spending time choosing the right artist, there was an obvious choice in Jonny because he is Dunfermline-born with an international reputation and his work is bright and colourful.

"When commissions go wrong it is when the artist is not sensitive to the location.

"From a public point of view, it is a very good idea and murals go down well, the main obstacle would be approval from the building owner.

"I am happy to offer any advice or to help connect artists."

Ryan Blackadder, the co-convener of the group behind the idea, has written to the City of Dunfermline area committee about the proposed project and requested they consider making funds available.

If the initiative was to go ahead, the city would be following in the footsteps of Glasgow, as well as other places in Fife such as Cowdenbeath, home to what is thought to be Fife's largest mural, as well as Kelty and Townhill where artist Donna Forrester has created huge tributes to boxer Connor Law, who passed away suddenly at the age of 26, and little Robyn Knox, who died in a tragic road accident at just three-years-old in 2020.