Jane's Midlife Journey

Bournemouth prom spans 7 miles, running from Southbourne in the east, past Bournemouth at Poole to Sandbanks in the west. In the summer of 2018, a Selfie Wall Trail of 11 murals by 7 local artists was introduced. Most works can still be seen if you take a walk/cycle along the prom.  (Note: Cycling is not permitted between 10 am and 6 pm in July and August).

Beach Fox

• Location – Southbourne Beach
• Artist – Owain Nicholls

This fox with attitude was the first mural in the trail. One of two works created by Bournemouth Arts University graduate Owain Nicholls, it has subsequently been removed due to construction work. But here he is in all his lolly licking glory.

In the interim, Sobo Beach, a pop-up bar consisting of a double decker bus and shipping containers, has some interesting art by local artist Kizzi Bennett.

Role Reversal

• Location – Bottom of Fisherman’s Walk
• Artist – LucanArt

At the bottom of the Fisherman’s Walk zigzag, was Miroslav Lucan’s Role Reversal. Here, a fish is going fishing, giving passers-by the opportunity to get hooked.

This is in the process of being replaced by another maritime themed piece by the same artist.

Darren Wiles

On the same wall is a mosaic made from ceramic tiles which depicts local metal detectorist Darren Wiles and was created to mark his 200th find. The piece is the work of local artist Matthew Byrom.

Words of Boscombe

Part of a new series of art produced to accompany lines of poetry, “Footprints mark fleeting moments, etching stories in the shoreline’s memory” is on of five new murals which have popped up around Boscombe’s coastline inspired by a piece of creative writing by a local writer.

This is Tech Moon’s contribution, which is painted on a toilet block just before Boscombe.

Crab

Not part of the original trail, this crab by LucanArt adorns the side of a beach bar in Boscombe.

Pick Me

• Location – Prom Diner
• Artist – Lewis Sutherland

Pick Me is in Boscombe on the wall of the Prom Diner. Painted by Lewis Sutherland (aka Smilinlewie), it depicts an excited child trying to win a toy at an amusement arcade. Unfortunately, it does tend to get a bit hidden behind the bins.

Fragments of Time

• Location – Arch next to Harry Ramsden’s
• Artist – Dario Vargas

Just before Bournemouth, next to Harry Ramsden’s, you can find Fragments of Time. Created by Columbian artist Dario Vargas, it is his interpretation of the classis angel wings selfie wall. When I stopped to take a picture, a woman came over to tell me that she thought she shared the same aura as the artist. Her scarf certainly seemed to match his colour palette!

You will need to walk along the pier to spot the next two murals. Note: It is free to enter the pier between November and March. During the rest of the year, a tickets costs £1.50 (£1.20 for children over 5). Or you can purchase a season pass for £5.

Floating Love

• Location – Bournemouth Pier East
• Artist – Altr-Ego

Floating Love is on the east side. I love these beautiful butterflies created by Ian Alexander (aka Altr-Ego). The 3D effect is produced by painting directly onto aluminium with a mixture of diamond dust, oils, acrylics and gold leaf.

The £99 Flake

• Location – Bournemouth Pier West
• Artist – Krisha Malla (Tech Moon)

On the west side of the pier is Tech Moon’s giant ice cream. It can get a bit obscured as the area is also used for storing barriers.

Take me to the Stars

• Location – Happyland Amusements
• Artist – Miroslav Lucan (LucanArt)

Just past Bournemouth pier is Happylands Amusements. Here, you can find another LucanArt mural with an astronaut peeking out of his rocket.

La Playa

• Location – under the arches at Alum Chine
• Artist – Ricky Also

Behind six arches at Alum Chine, you can find ‘La Playa’ by Ricky Also of Poole based Paint Shop Studio.

This photo was taken when a friend and I decided it would be a good idea to follow the selfie wall trail and buy a bottle wine to drink en route in a kind of artsy pub crawl. Needless to say, this was post wine! If you fancy a fun day walking along the prom, admiring the art and taking blurry photos, there’s a Tesco Express just past the end of the trail in Sandbanks.

Note: these arches are currently boarded up due to structural issues.

Freedom

• Location – Branksome Chine
• Artist – Altr-Ego

‘Follow your Dreams’, the second work by Altr-Ego, is at the bottom of Branksome Chine. This fish (well, dolphin) seemed to perfectly fit my bicycle.

Hungry Shark

• Location – Branksome
• Artist – Owain Nicholls

Also in Branksome you will find the Owain Nicholls’ ‘Hungry shark’. Enough to put you off going in the water!

The Owl

• Location – Shore Road
• Artist – Tech Moon

At the end of the prom, on the toilets in Shore Road, you can find Krishna Malla (aka Tech Moon)’s striking The Owl and The Pussycat.

The Pussycat

• Location – Shore Road
• Artist – Krisha Malla (Tech Moon)

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth here.

• Updated: November 2025