Street art - canal style

Something a little different today. It's been dry and I've been able to get out and give the birds who come to the feeder in our garden a bit of peace and quiet. :-D
I found a car park near Pitstone Wharf by the Grand Union Canal and spent a little bit of time wandering along the towpath there. Pitstone was once a quarrying area, so the stone would at one time have been transported on the canal.
Narrow boats (not long boats or barges, as they are sometimes mistakenly called) are traditionally brightly painted and decorated with paintings of roses and castles, like this : http://365project.org/dulciknit/365/2011-05-29.
The roses and castles painting tradition is dying out now, mainly because it costs so much to have the work done, although costs reflect the expertise and time required for the work. And tastes change, of course. I've never seen anything quite like this before, though. The boat is painted dark green and black in real life, but I've just kept the little bit of colour in the painting.

[Arthur Loosley]

Lovely shot. I love canals - and (some) art, and this ticks both boxes!

[Jean Tookey]

What an amazing find. So unusual. I love seeing these boats. Each boat has its own character.

[Zanettie]

This is great - amazing art work!

[CHARLES MALLIA]

beautiful art work

[Anita Hoyle]

We were moored at Pitstone Wharf when we had our boat, I used to paint Roses and Castles and some of those you see may be my work although mine were very traditional not creative like these. Good pic!

[Jennifer C]

aliens on the canal...looks pretty cool!!

[Brian Baptie]

Cool!!

[Roberta Clark Chalmers]

Nice shot! Very interesting information about the boats. Thanks.

[Nat]

I'm not sure the neighbours would approve if I put a mural like that on my house. I suppose if you have a boat you just move it to a nicer view.

[Netkonnexion]

Cool artwork. Love it.

[Jen Hudson]

Unusual artwork for canal boat. Nice processing.

[Susan Bell]

Certainly different to the roses and castles. Interesting, but I think I prefer the old styles. It is a shame that people are not more adventurous in trying out doing the traditional work as it isn't really that difficult once you know the way it is done.

[Ariel]

Interesting shot - that reminds me that a few months ago there was a purple narrowboat moored overnight, which had decorative graffiti (intentional rather than by vandals) on its sides.

[Alison Hewitt Bailey]

@mercuria It's good to think there are some people who are moved to do something more than paint panels in solid blocks of colour to decorate to their boats. It would be sad to see the old style painting die out completely but I like the idea of a living tradition.