Ripley's zoo history brought to life in colourful new mural
Created by local artist Amy Vallance with Arts Award Bronze pupils from St John’s Primary School, the mural brings together art, local history and the imagination of some of Ripley’s youngest residents.
Amber Valley Borough Council supported the project, providing the Town Hall wall as a prominent home for the finished artwork.
(Pictured above: Local artist Amy Vallance with the finished Ripley Zoo mural at Ripley Town Hall.)
At the heart of the mural are the animals of Ripley Zoo, recreated by the pupils after learning about a fascinating chapter in their town’s history.
During a workshop with Amy, the children took inspiration from French artist Henri Matisse and his collage techniques to create their own versions of animals once found at the zoo.
Their creations were then brought together into the finished design, with Amy and fellow artist Grace Calloway spending four days transforming the Town Hall wall into a bright and colourful celebration of Ripley.
(Pictured above: Artists Amy Vallance and Grace Calloway beginning work on the Ripley Zoo mural at Ripley Town Hall.)
Amy said: "I’m really passionate about our little town and wanted to bring some love and creativity to the area, while celebrating a part of Ripley’s history that not everybody knows about.
"I wanted to introduce the story of the zoo to a new generation, which led to working with the children at St John’s Primary School and using art as a way for them to explore it.
"Now, as people enter Ripley, they can take a little trip down memory lane through the colour and creativity of the children."
(Pictured above: Ripley Zoo, which opened on Oxford Street in 1908. Image courtesy of Ripley and District Heritage Trust.)
Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams, Leader of Amber Valley Borough Council, said: "The mural is a fantastic addition to Ripley and has completely transformed this part of the Town Hall.
"Amy has taken a fascinating piece of the town’s history and, by involving local children, turned it into something colourful, creative and full of character.
"The council had been looking at opportunities to introduce more art into our town centres, so when Amy came to us with her idea, it was something we were delighted to support. It’s wonderful to see her vision brought to life in such a prominent spot for people arriving in Ripley."
Amy secured initial funding for the project through Make/Shift’s Community Creative Agents programme, which supports local artists to connect creatively with communities across Amber Valley.
Ripley Zoo, officially known as Marshall and Sons Zoo Gardens, was opened by local entrepreneur John Marshall in 1908 on Oxford Street. It remained open until 1915 and is a fascinating part of the town’s history.
More than a century later, its story is once again part of Ripley’s landscape, brought back to life through the creativity of local artists and a new generation of the town’s children.
An information board will also be installed alongside the mural, sharing more about the story of Ripley Zoo and the inspiration behind the artwork.
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