Why Everyone’s Talking About the Captain on the Wall in New Brighton

Sometimes the best ideas start with a simple conversation. This one began at a meeting of the New Brighton Partnership, where local businesses and community groups come together to share ideas, stories, and a bit of hope for the town’s future. Pauline from the Floral Pavilion turned to me and said, “What about a mural for Captain Mike Lowe?”

That one line lit a spark. Mike’s name carries weight on both sides of the Mersey — a man who spent his life steering ferries, mentoring crews, and representing the best of what Merseyside stands for: pride, humility, and service. Over the next few months, that idea became something much bigger — a community tribute painted on the side of the Master Mariner, overlooking the river that shaped us all.

From Idea to Reality

Once the idea took hold, Pauline and I reached out to Mike’s family — his son Johnny and relatives who were thrilled by the thought of seeing Mike honoured while he could still enjoy it. We wanted the mural to capture his story, not as a memorial, but as a living celebration of someone who embodies the spirit of our waterfront.

We brought in local artist Adam Bresnen — better known by his mural name, BREZAUX — whose work has helped define New Brighton’s creative identity. Adam has that rare ability to combine realism and emotion in a way that feels timeless. For months, we worked closely with the Lowe family, digging through photo archives, scanning old prints, and sketching drafts that wove together moments from Mike’s life — from his early days as a boy on the ferry to his proudest moments at the helm.

The final design shows Captain Mike in command, with the Liver Building skyline seen through the bridge window. It’s not just a portrait — it’s a story written on brick, a mural that belongs to everyone who’s ever looked out over that river and felt its pull.

A River That Connects Us

When we started this project, we didn’t just want to paint a wall. We wanted to paint a connection — between Liverpool, New Brighton and Birkenhead, between shipbuilders and sailors, between past and present. Our river doesn’t divide us; it binds us.

That’s why we were so proud to have Cammell Laird on board as our project partner. Their shipyard history is the backbone of Birkenhead, and they understood instantly what this mural represents. Mike’s story isn’t just his own — it’s the story of every worker, welder, and engineer who built ships that carried Merseyside’s name across the world. Cammell Laird didn’t just sponsor the mural; they stood behind it as part of their own story. For that, we owe them deep thanks.

The Team Behind the Wall

Projects like this only happen when people care — and we’ve been lucky to have some incredible people around us. Nick, Sue and the whole team at the Master Mariner Bar couldn’t have been more supportive, giving us space, encouragement, and plenty of coffee through the long days of painting.

The Guide Liverpool backed us with media coverage and sponsorship that helped the story reach well beyond the Wirral. And the Hatch Gallery, who’ve been tireless champions of New Brighton’s creative community, once again stepped in to help promote and celebrate the work.

And of course, none of this would exist without Daniel Davies — the legend behind the mural trail and the driving force behind Rockpoint Leisure. Without Dan’s vision, none of us would be painting stories like this on our town’s walls. He laid the groundwork for what’s now become a genuine creative renaissance in New Brighton.

Why Mike Lowe?

When I met Mike, what struck me wasn’t his career — it was his humility. Here’s a man who’s carried millions of passengers safely across the Mersey, who’s mentored crews, who’s seen the river in every season — and yet he talks about it like a privilege.

He told me about his Sundays as a boy, catching the number six bus to Woodside with his grandad, then crossing to Liverpool before coming to New Brighton. The seaside was fine, he said, but it was always the ferry ride back that mattered most — the smell of the river, the hum of the engines, the sense of belonging. That’s where it all began for him.

Decades later, when he stood as Captain on those same ferries, he wasn’t just steering a vessel — he was carrying the city’s spirit across the water, every single day.

More Than Paint

When we painted this mural, we weren’t just celebrating one man. We were celebrating an idea — that ordinary people doing extraordinary things deserve to be remembered in the open air, not hidden in archives or fading photographs.

Street art has the power to give pride back to a place. It says, “We were here. We mattered.” And that’s what this mural stands for — for Mike, for the ferries, for everyone who’s worked these waters and kept the story of the Mersey alive.

Looking Ahead

The Captain Mike Lowe mural isn’t the end of something; it’s the start of the next chapter. Through New Brighton Creative Futures CIC, we’re continuing to grow the mural trail, protect the existing works, and create new pieces that honour local heritage and local heroes.

Every mural tells a story, but together, they tell something bigger — a story of a town that refuses to fade quietly. A town that’s painting itself back to life.

So here’s to Mike, to the river, and to everyone who still believes that art belongs on the streets — where everyone can see it, feel it, and be part of it.

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About the author: Rory Wilmer is the founder of New Brighton Creative Futures CIC, a community-led arts organisation preserving and expanding the New Brighton mural trail.