Mural artist Alex McLeod colours Tauranga in happy seaside scenes

19 Aug 2021

Crayfish are usually known to dwell in rocky crevices deep in the ocean, but in Tauranga they are out in broad daylight thanks to the work of Alex McLeod. The Papamoa-based mural artist has been colouring up Tauranga using Resene paints to create more than 20 murals on everything from Chorus boxes to carparks and public toilets.

Alex, who also has a signwriting business, first dabbled in larger scale paintings when he was at design school, but at first put his mural art plans on ice.

“At the time, being a mural artist didn’t seem like something you could make a career out of but I was always drawn back to it and gradually took on more projects,” says Alex.

Alex loves the ocean and nature and murals that “have a message”. He begins his designs by sketching extensively then scaling up his designs in Photoshop and Procreate.

Alex, who says his favourite Resene colour is Resene Venice Blue was first introduced to Resene when he worked for a painter and decorator after university.

“It was a great grounding for becoming a mural artist as I learnt a lot of technical aspects like surface prep, tools and paint systems — and I discovered Resene Lumbersider. I love working with this paint. It stands up to the harsh UV light and the colour range is extensive and harmonious.”

View more of his work here

Tauranga mural artist Alex McLeod says his favourite Resene colour is Resene Venice Blue.

Check out more of Alex's incredible work:

Pohutukawa

Seaweed

A mural for Tahatai School

A mural for Te Uku School

Published: 19 Aug 2021