Artist returns to his old Chaddesden school to draw a mural for pupils

Leigh Irvine received his first praise for his drawing at the school in the 1990s

When mural artist Leigh Irvine received a call about painting a wall in a school library, he was filled with nostalgia when he found out the school’s name. That's because Cherry Tree Hill Primary in Chaddesden was the school Leigh attended in the 1990s, so he was only too happy to accept the commission.

The school was in need of an artist and had seen some of Leigh’s work locally on a garage wall. He said: “I can remember it was at that school where I was praised for my artwork for the first time. I was oblivious, but the teacher said, ‘that’s a good drawing’ and now it’s come full circle.”

Leigh spent a week during the school summer holidays painting the artwork he had designed for the library. At the school’s request, it incorporates a cherry tree standing on a hill, books and reading inspiration.

And while the mural has gone down a storm with the children, the highlight for Leigh was going back into the school to do the work in August. "Walking in was extremely nostalgic,” said Leigh, who grew up in Chaddesden.

“There’s not much that has changed, which I know is quite rare. There have been a couple of additions to the building but other than that, the corridors felt the same, it was just brilliant.

“The staff gave me a tour of the site which was really kind. It’s a strange thing, perspective, when you visit as an adult. I came across a set of stairs which we used to challenge ourselves to see if we could jump down in one...it was a huge thing as a kid... when I was there this time I could just step down them in one stride!”

Leigh also got to reminisce with a member of the reception staff who was there when he was a pupil. “We had a good chat and brought up lots of memories,” said Leigh, who worked as an engineer before giving up his job to pursue his passion for artwork, setting up his own business, Raze Murals in 2017. He now travels the country doing commissioned work in hospitals, schools and businesses, as well as private homes.

For head teacher Paul Appleton, having the work done by a former pupil makes the piece even more personal for the school and its pupils. “The children absolutely love the mural,” said Paul.

“Seeing their faces when they came back from holidays and walked in was just brilliant and we can talk to the children about the fact Leigh started as a pupil here, just like them. It makes it very personal."