A BRAND new approach to blending classic architecture with modern art on a monumental scale has been unveiled at a National Trust mansion in the Vale.

40 feet high artwork at Croome Court, near Pershore, rubs contrasting shoulders with the impressive 18th century neo-Palladian home and estate designed by Capability Brown.

Sprayed and painted on to the scaffold wrap by five talented artists, the towering characters include the handsome red velvet-coated George William Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry, his beautiful but tragic wife Maria Gunning, famous landscape designer Capability Brown hard at work and a cheeky 1950s schoolboy, harking back to the days when Croome Court was run as a school for disadvantaged boys.

The artists, all working with Upfest, include Bristol-based Silent Hobo, Cheo, Andy Colwill, My Dog Sighs and Sarah Gasby, also known as Miss Wah, who lives locally to Croome.

“We’ve just begun an 18 month Heritage Lottery funded repair to the house with a scaffold structure surrounding the building,” said Tom Bennett, Croome’s creative director who has managed the project with Upfest, the Bristol-based public arts company.

He added: "We wanted to do something quite different on the temporary wrap which is on the north side of the house so we decided to commission experienced and emerging street artists to create an eye-catching and attention-grabbing design which was deeply rooted in Croome’s history.

"I hope that the artwork provokes and inspires our visitors and the wider community by showcasing a form of art that some people may have never seen before while interpreting the people that lived, loved and worked here.”

“Bringing together this project for the National Trust has been one of the most interesting projects I’ve worked on” said Upfest’s project leader Stephen Hayles, “This is a first for the National Trust and also a first for painting onto such a large temporary surface which has brought its own challenges and interest. For me, the project encompasses what Croome is all about and for it to take place in such a stunning setting is the cherry on the cake.”

The scaffold wrap is now nearing completion and is on view for visitors to see in all of its 500 metre square magnificence with still more artwork to be added.

Croome is open from 10am to 5.30pm every day and Croome Court is open from 11am to 4.30pm and closed on Tuesdays.

For more information please call: 01905 371006 or visit the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome. Follow Croome on Twitter @NTCroome.