Teddy bear murals using Keim Mineral Paints

The 200 square metre murals have been painted using Keim Mineral Paints throughout because they have an exceptional longlife expectancy of at least 15 years.

Every once in a while something different turns up which requires a special treatment or a unique look.

Just such a project was put into the care of Keim Mineral Paints for the refurbishment of the former public swimming baths in Bacup, Lancashire.

The Grade II Listed Building dates from Victorian times when the public baths were very much in vogue for both health and social activities.

No longer so in this century, and following the closure of the baths, the building has now been renovated for use as a children's nursery and community centre, offering specialist care facilities for expectant and new mothers plus general social areas.

This large project has been carried out in conjunction with Groundwork Rossendale and Sure Start.

With children very much in mind as the buildings key users, the concept of a beach scene was originated as a mural to give interest on an approximate 200 square metre expanse of blank wall connecting two areas designated for pre-school children play.

The brief was interpreted by local artist Andrew Holland whose design features teddy bears going to the seaside, activities whilst there and their return home.

The murals have been painted using Keim Mineral Paints throughout because they have an exceptional longlife expectancy of at least 15 years.

With the cost of painting the scenes, longevity was a key factor in choosing the paint.

The Keim Mineral Paint system owes its longlife to its micro-crystalline structure which forms a chemical bond with the substrate.

The paints are also resistant to acid and alkaline conditions, completely lightfast and are environmentally friendly being odourless, mould resistant, non-combustible, solvent and VOC free and produced using only natural inorganic materials.

Andrew Holland has been commissioned to paint a number of exterior scenes for various other projects over recent years.

He chose Keim Mineral Paints because the murals needed to have the longest possible life expectancy to spread the cost over the maximum period.

"Keim were the only manufacturer prepared to give us the reassurance of a 15 year life expectancy or longer" he says "We used their Granital system which has excellent opacity and could even cover some black areas with white paint".

"It also gives an excellent brightness for the strong colours needed for the beach scenes." Andrew was also complementary about the service from Keim Mineral Paints technical representative, on time deliveries, accuracy of coverage rate calculations and ease of use.

The results are a delight and much appreciated by the children and staff - and they will be a talking point for future generations too.

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