John Muir and Gothenburg

Kate Hunter had painted a mural that celebrated East Lothian’s trading links with Gothenburg and John Muir’s role in establishing US National Parks. But the storms of 2010/11 damaged the mural (and a lot of the shoreline) beyond repair.

The Prestoungrange Arts Festival, who looked after the Murals then, had to decide whether they would replicate the original mural with a new artist, re-interpret the story or create a new storyline. The Festival decided to re-interpret the original story and asked Ronnie Elliot to help.

His version shows John Muir sitting on the shore with a glass of Fowler’s Ale in his hand and a paper boat in front of him. The modern city of Gothenburg waits in the background. The caption read:

‘John Muir, born in Dunbar in 1838, sent forth an idea which inspired the nation of America and indeed the world for generations to come. The least we can do is stand him a pint of Fowler’s.’