Hollow Hills Mural | Glastonbury

This mural on Glastonbury High Street draws on the symbolism of the famous Glastonbury Holy Thorn, a hawthorn tree that once stood on Wearyall Hill before it was cut down in a spiteful acat of vandalism. In local folklore and wider tradition, hawthorn is associated with protection and love, and the artist wanted to bring some of that sense of calm and grounding into a busy part of town that can often feel intense or overcrowded. The central figure is a pregnant, humanised spirit of the tree. That idea connects directly to the artist’s own work as a doula, supporting people through birth. The mural developed slowly over a couple of years rather than being completed in one go, with periods of work often following significant personal moments, particularly births the artist had attended. Because of this, the finished piece is intended to carry a sense of care, renewal and lived experience, rather than just being decorative. The work, created by  artist Lianne Charlie Marson-May, for the frontage of The Hollow Hills Bookshop as part of the Glastonbury Mural Trail. It was designed to complement the shop while also adding something more reflective to the street.