Former cruise liner, the <em>Duke of Lancaster</em>, was docked on the banks of the Dee Estuary in north Wales three decades ago. It has now become a canvas for graffiti artists from across Europe.
Grand old duke —
Former cruise liner, the Duke of Lancaster, was docked on the banks of the Dee Estuary in north Wales three decades ago. It has now become a canvas for graffiti artists from across Europe.
Courtesy Shaun Dickinson
The first paintings to appear were of orange and blue pirates on the ship's bow, created by Latvian artist <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthekiwie.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">KIWIE</a>. Each pirate is nine meters tall and includes the dates the ship was built (1956) and docked in Llanerch-y-Mor (1979).
Pirate painters —
The first paintings to appear were of orange and blue pirates on the ship's bow, created by Latvian artist KIWIE. Each pirate is nine meters tall and includes the dates the ship was built (1956) and docked in Llanerch-y-Mor (1979).
Courtesy Annar 50 www.dudug.co.uk
The 10-meter tall "Council of Monkeys" was created by French artist <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goinart.net%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">GOIN</a>. Many of the artworks have an anti-authority theme, inspired by the ship owners' struggles with the local council to keep it open.
Monkey business —
The 10-meter tall "Council of Monkeys" was created by French artist GOIN. Many of the artworks have an anti-authority theme, inspired by the ship owners' struggles with the local council to keep it open.
Courtesy Annar 50 www.dudug.co.uk
Irish artist <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffindac.tumblr.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Fin Dac</a>, created this piece, called "Mauricamai," which stretches the height of the ship's stern. "I create my art to keep myself happy. If others like it then that's a great by-product," he said.
Graffiti geisha —
Irish artist Fin Dac, created this piece, called "Mauricamai," which stretches the height of the ship's stern. "I create my art to keep myself happy. If others like it then that's a great by-product," he said.
Courtesy Dan Callister www.dudug.co.uk
At 18-meters tall and 14-meters wide, "Eduk the Diver", created by The Cream Soda Crew from Britain, is the largest piece on the ship. The four-person crew used a hydraulic-powered elevated work platform to scale the towering walls.
Big dreams —
At 18-meters tall and 14-meters wide, "Eduk the Diver", created by The Cream Soda Crew from Britain, is the largest piece on the ship. The four-person crew used a hydraulic-powered elevated work platform to scale the towering walls.
Courtesy Chris Noble
The project was launched by arts collective <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dudug.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">DuDug</a> -- a word play on the Welsh for "black duke." Hungarian artist Mr Zero, created this piece, called "The Prophet of Profit." <br /><br />"At first some people weren't so keen on the artwork and saw it very doggedly as 'illegal graffiti' in the negative sense of the word. However, many now realize that the Duke has been given a new purpose and a new lease of life," DuDug organiser Maurice Blunt, said.
Black duke —
The project was launched by arts collective DuDug -- a word play on the Welsh for "black duke." Hungarian artist Mr Zero, created this piece, called "The Prophet of Profit."

"At first some people weren't so keen on the artwork and saw it very doggedly as 'illegal graffiti' in the negative sense of the word. However, many now realize that the Duke has been given a new purpose and a new lease of life," DuDug organiser Maurice Blunt, said.
Courtesy Alan Brodie
"One of the things that's impressed me is just how taken the artists are with the ship. This is their interpretation of its history," project co-ordinator, Paul Williams, said.
Dark arts —
"One of the things that's impressed me is just how taken the artists are with the ship. This is their interpretation of its history," project co-ordinator, Paul Williams, said.
Courtesy Alan Brodie
This balaclava-clad businessman was created by British artist <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbungleart.blogspot.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Bungle</a>, and is titled "The Face of Authority." All the artists work on a volunteer basis.
Paint a picture —
This balaclava-clad businessman was created by British artist Bungle, and is titled "The Face of Authority." All the artists work on a volunteer basis.
Courtesy Annar 50 www.dudug.co.uk
Before she was an open-air gallery, the <em>Duke of Lancaster</em> was a luxury passenger ferry. During the summer months she traveled the high seas as a cruise liner around western Europe, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
Heyday —
Before she was an open-air gallery, the Duke of Lancaster was a luxury passenger ferry. During the summer months she traveled the high seas as a cruise liner around western Europe, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
Courtesy Duke of Lancaster
The <em>Duke</em> boasted a silver service restaurant and spacious cabins. "She was an opulent ship -- her fixtures and fittings were second to none," Williams said.
Luxury liner —
The Duke boasted a silver service restaurant and spacious cabins. "She was an opulent ship -- her fixtures and fittings were second to none," Williams said.
Courtesy Duke of Lancaster
The vessel was converted into a car ferry in 1970. Eight years later she was destined for the scrap yard when four entrepreneurs -- John Rowley, Pat Scott, Trevor Scott and Ian Tobin -- bought her in the hope of creating a leisure center which, as a ship, would by-pass the UK's Sunday trading laws.
Docked days —
The vessel was converted into a car ferry in 1970. Eight years later she was destined for the scrap yard when four entrepreneurs -- John Rowley, Pat Scott, Trevor Scott and Ian Tobin -- bought her in the hope of creating a leisure center which, as a ship, would by-pass the UK's Sunday trading laws.
Courtesy Duke of Lancaster
In 1980, the Funship opened, featuring a mall, cinema, game arcade, restaurant, nightclub and hotel rooms. The leisure center closed in 1985, after safety concerns from the local council.
Fun times —
In 1980, the Funship opened, featuring a mall, cinema, game arcade, restaurant, nightclub and hotel rooms. The leisure center closed in 1985, after safety concerns from the local council.
Courtesy Duke of Lancaster
Inside, the ship remains virtually untouched. "It's strange, but since the artworks started appearing on the outside of the ship last August, we've had no acts of vandalism inside," Williams said.
Ghost ship —
Inside, the ship remains virtually untouched. "It's strange, but since the artworks started appearing on the outside of the ship last August, we've had no acts of vandalism inside," Williams said.
Courtesy Duke of Lancaster
DuDug is now campaigning to have the site reopened to the public as the centerpiece of an arts festival. Will this be the next chapter in the varied history of the <em>Duke</em>?
Future duke? —
DuDug is now campaigning to have the site reopened to the public as the centerpiece of an arts festival. Will this be the next chapter in the varied history of the Duke?
Courtesy Alan Brodie