Passengers travelling to and from the Isle of Wight can now discover the story behind East Cowes’ iconic Columbine Building mural thanks to a new display onboard Red Funnel’s Red Eagle.
A previously blank wall onboard the Red Eagle has been transformed with vibrant, annotated images that explain the story behind the 800m² mural on the side of the Columbine Building in East Cowes.
The artwork tells the strong and interconnected story of nature, industry and place, linking the Sea Eagle reintroduction programme with the long‑standing ingenuity and innovation for which East Cowes is renowned.
Supported by Arts Council England, Forestry England and the Isle of Wight Council, the mural was painted in 2024 by an all‑female team of talented Island‑based artists, led by mural artist Alice Malia, with the wider project managed by Ross Edmunds, Area Regeneration Manager at the Isle of Wight Council.
Alex Minns, Isle of Wight Council’s service director for community regeneration and economy, said:
“This project captures the very best of the Isle of Wight. It celebrates our wildlife, our creativity and our history of innovation.
“The signage shares that story onboard Red Eagle, giving residents and visitors alike the opportunity to connect with the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere status and the remarkable legacy of the Columbine Building from the moment they arrive.”
The information panels onboard Red Eagle explore the artwork in detail, beginning with the white‑tailed eagle, an iconic species reintroduced to the south coast after an absence of more than 200 years.
From historic breakthroughs such as the invention of the hovercraft to the production of the Black Arrow rocket, which was the first British rocket to successfully launch a satellite into orbit, the site has long stood at the forefront of innovation.
That legacy continues today as the building is home to Wight Shipyard Co, and the Columbine remains a working industrial site, where traditional maritime skills sit alongside modern technology to produce high‑quality, state‑of‑the‑art vessels for the marine industry.
Passengers travelling on Red Eagle can now explore the story behind the mural in detail, celebrating the Isle of Wight’s status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the enduring legacy of East Cowes as soon as they step onboard.
Commenting on the mural being displayed on the Red Eagle, Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said:
“East Cowes has a proud heritage of innovation, from its rich industrial history to more than a century of conservation work across the Island, helping to bring the white-tailed eagle back to our skies, and this mural captures that story beautifully.
“Since it was unveiled in 2024, Alice’s artwork has become a real point of pride for the community, and we’re incredibly proud to display the mural onboard Red Eagle.
“The moment feels especially significant as Red Funnel enters its 165th year serving the Isle of Wight, at a time when it feels more important than ever to celebrate the people, places and stories that continue to shape East Cowes.
“Thank you to Matt and Alice for creating a digital interpretation for the vessel – we’re excited to be able to share a little piece of East Cowes with our passengers as they travel across the Solent.”
Alice Malia said:
“The Columbine building was a wonderful canvas for me and the 8 artists who brought these stories from the island’s past and current achievements to its walls.
“The eagle reintroduction project is a fantastic success story, conservation works as long as the habitat is cared for, and the Islands Biosphere reserve status shows that we are doing the right things to help nature thrive here alongside humans.
“The history of East Cowes as a technological hub was fascinating to research. It was an honour to represent those local workers in the painting, including the incredible shipbuilding innovations still happening inside the building today.
“We are thrilled that Red Funnel will be bringing more detail to the viewing experience of the mural, by featuring details and more information and history of the artwork on their vessels.”
