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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Harry Bateman & Orlaith Clinton

Wee Nuls: Belfast woman opens up on how local street art scene is growing and thriving

There aren't many people in Belfast who won't have been blown away by our street art culture.

In a city known for murals, both political and creative, the street art community is continuing to thrive, bringing a pop of colour to alleyways and grey walls.

And it's hard to think of Belfast's street art without Wee Nuls springing to mind. Born and bred in the city, Nuala Convery's art takes women and plunges them into a strength, power and confidence, through paint canisters.

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Speaking to Belfast Live, the 30-year-old said: "I have been doing art since I could pick up a pencil. I knew from a pretty young age that I wanted to do something creative as a career and that I didn't want an office job. I didn't really know what that would look like, but didn't mind either.

"For a long time I was very open to many different types of creativity within my career and have worked in many different creative jobs. I have been working as an artist full time since 2020.

Wee Nuls (Harry Bateman/Belfast Live)

"Wee Nuls was born in 2017, when I first started to do street art because I wanted to have an alias for it. Wee Nuls is actually my nickname too, so that is why I chose it and stuck with it.

"For my own art, I paint female presenting characters who look like aliens. I like them to look strong and confident. I often create characters who may not be conventionally beautiful, but they are beautiful to me. I like to include body hair and stretch marks, that you often don't see in the media. I want to normalise that.

"I am proud of myself and I think that if young Nuls could have seen what I am doing as my career, she would have been very excited and pleasantly surprised."

Last week, Nuala organised an all-female paint jam with six other talented artists - Ariana Lupascu, Arú, Constance, Kerrie Hanna, Myfanwyia and Zippy.

Sponsored by a newly opened spray paint shop, the women transformed the exterior wall of the ArtCetera Studio on Rosemary Street.

Nuala added: "The Paint Jam was something that I came up with the idea for but it was very much a collaborative effort between me and the other six artists invovled. I really wanted to make an all women street art jam, which is basically where street artists work together on a shared space.

"We thought that we would have to fund our own paint, but a new spray paint shop just opened in Smithfield Market called Outlines Art Supplies, and I asked if they would be interested in sporing us with the paint, they agreed to it which was great.

"There was seven women artists in total and it was great because we were all women of different ages and at different points in our careers. It was really exciting to be painting together to the theme, which was 'the veil wears thin' exploring the connection to the magic/otherworld. The idea of death/new beginnings/inner power and transformation that Samhain brings. We painted from 10am until dark."

Hailing the local creative scene, Nuala says she is proud to be known for her art, and will continue to bring share her talents with the public.

"Belfast's street art scene is very good and to be honest, I think it is up there with other bigger cities. Part of the reason I think, is because we do have a longstanding tradition on using walls to shout about things. Walls have been used for political art and that dates back over 100 years.

"The street art is neutral and we have as thriving community here, which is amazing."

Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.

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