Bangor artist Johnny Hamilton, who works under the name Jossiepops, is rethinking the role of murals in Northern Ireland by painting large-scale, non‑political works intended to draw visitors and celebrate local culture.
New approach to murals
Hamilton has produced murals across the north, including in Belfast, Newtownards and Bangor. His recent commission in Bangor marks the latest phase of a project he developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the artist saying he deliberately avoids overtly political themes.
Speaking to The Irish News, he described his approach:
“I try to avoid all political stuff. I do movie characters or fictional characters. It feels better. No drama.”
The artist said his intention is to create imagery that people from different backgrounds can enjoy and that will encourage visitors to travel. He used the phrase, “take the orange and green out of it”, to describe the aim of making murals that transcend unionist and nationalist colour symbolism and instead appeal to a wider audience.
Local works and wider reach
Among his notable projects is a mural of Bangor musician Foy Vance on Primrose Avenue. Hamilton has also produced a new piece to mark the 20th anniversary of Snow Patrol’s album Eyes Open, which he said he was proud to be asked to paint.
Hamilton recounted an early success that helped raise his profile: he painted a portrait that attracted unexpected attention, including a message from actor Gerard Butler. He said of that first piece,
“The first mural was a test. I wanted to play with the idea that if you build it, they’ll come. I’d drawn Gerard Butler and it worked. I was shocked he had sent me a DM and came down and kissed his own face on it. It was just ridiculous and it went viral and it was a particularly good story.”
He believes cultural attractions such as music-related murals can prompt people to visit towns they might otherwise overlook. “If you’re a big enough fan of Snow Patrol, you will travel to see them because it’s just something close to your heart, so it will bring people to Bangor,” he told The Irish News.
Context and potential impact for Bangor
Murals have a long and often contested history in Northern Ireland, serving as markers of political identity and local memory. Examples include the Bobby Sands display on Belfast’s Falls Road, Free Derry Corner in Derry, and loyalist depictions of King William III. Hamilton acknowledges their historical significance but is explicit about pursuing a different purpose for his work.
Local residents and civic leaders have in recent years looked for ways to encourage footfall in town centres and support independent businesses. Public art that appeals across communities can be one element in broader place-making and tourism strategies. Hamilton’s murals, by highlighting musicians and cultural touchstones, aim to contribute to that effort without engaging in the political narratives that have long shaped wall art in the north.
The artist said he wants his large-scale artworks to be accessible and to entice people from both within Northern Ireland and from further afield to explore towns and cities that might otherwise be overlooked.
- Mural subjects: fictional and cultural figures rather than political symbols.
- Locations: works in Belfast, Newtownards and Bangor among others.
- Objective: attract visitors and foster a shared, non‑sectarian sense of place.
| Feature | Example |
|---|---|
| Mural celebrating a musician | Foy Vance mural on Primrose Avenue, Bangor |
| Album anniversary mural | Snow Patrol: 20th anniversary of Eyes Open |
Hamilton’s work is a reminder that public art can serve multiple roles: it can preserve memory and identity, but it can also act as an invitation — encouraging people to visit, to learn and to share spaces that might otherwise be defined by division. For Bangor, the new murals represent both a celebration of local talent and an experiment in making the town a cultural destination.
