A brand new artwork celebrating Stirling’s people and its history was officially unveiled in the city centre on 26 April for the launch of Stirling’s 900th anniversary celebrations.

The colourful 30ft long illustration was created by local artist David Galletly and adorns one side of the square directly across from Stirling train station, one of the busiest in Scotland.

The artwork showcases some of the major moments of Stirling’s rich history over the past 900 years, from the Battle of Bannockburn to the opening of the University of Stirling, and mingles it with legends from the Stirling area such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Sir Andy Murray and Billy Bremner.

David’s design was inspired by suggestions submitted by people of all ages across Stirling, and children from Riverside Primary School were among those who came along to see the artwork take pride of place in the heart of the city.

David said: “Working on the artwork for Stirling 900 has been tremendously rewarding. My intention is to capture the history of Stirling in a way that serves both as an interesting introduction to the city for visitors, and as a playful memento for those who know it well.

“I'm Stirling born-and-raised and, despite feeling like I know the city intimately, this project has allowed me to make countless new discoveries about my hometown. Distilling 900 years into a single image is an impossible task but, by putting a spotlight on a select few characters, stories and tall tales, hopefully the energy of the city is apparent for all to enjoy.”

The installation of the artwork signals the start of Stirling’s 900th anniversary celebrations, with the city conferred Royal Burgh status by King David 1 in 1124.

An exciting programme of new and scheduled events is being created to mark the milestone over the next 12 months.

Some of the events already confirmed include a special edition of the Walking of the Marches, Stirling Summer Sessions, a Stirling 900 art exhibition, a symphonic laser spectacular at the Church of the Holy Rude and events at the National Wallace Monument.

For the further information see www.yourstirling.com/whats-on/stirling-900/