Narrabeen’s Kari Scruby asked Northern Beaches’ street artist David Brown to paint a mural on her home. The result is a picturesque seascape.
With her trademark wide-brimmed white hat, brown sarong, effervescent personality and love for swimming on local beaches all year round, self-confessed ‘weirdo’ Kari Scruby is a bit of a local celebrity.
Now, the home she’s owned in Lagoon Street for 31 years is also becoming a tourist attraction due to the crazy doodles from Wheeler Heights artist David Brown.
“I love street art and all the murals in the Inner West, and have always thought we should have more here,” says Kari. “I fell in love with Montreal’s murals on a trip to Canada, and the intricate architecture and gargoyles in Portugal, and when I painted my house recently, I thought it would be fun to get a mural.”
The former casting agent contacted David, whose designs are dotted around Australia, including on the Taipan snake ride at Jamberoo and Kerry Packer’s helicopter. He’s even done art for Mission Impossible 2, Murder Call and the Olympics.
On the Peninsula, his work can be spotted all around the local area, including Brown Brothers in Polo Avenue, Mona Vale, and the gorgeous Clontarf and Freshwater Beach murals at Balgowlah RSL.
David and Kari in front of the finished mural.
Kari jokes David’s initial design for her home was a ‘bit drab – it needed more ‘oomph’’.
“I didn’t realise he’s crazier than me, and the next day he came with a dolphin on a surfboard,” she laughs.
“I thought ‘go with it, why not?’ and gave him a blank canvas. His imagination went wild, and now it’s got me in it wearing my hat and sarong, a pelican, a seagull who has eaten a man’s fish and chips with one lodged in its throat, a Manly Sea Eagle. It’s even got my neighbours’ three daughters in it.”
David says he took inspiration from knowing how much Kari loves Narrabeen and everything about it, and also how everybody knows her.
“Everyone knows Kari’s a crazy lady,” he laughs. “When she told me I had free rein to do something fun, colourful, crazy and bright that will get attention, I thought ‘that’s right down my alley’ so I kept going.”
The art, which took two weeks to complete, is a hit in the neighbourhood, attracting crowds of people daily, with cars slowing down as they drive past, and people pulling over to take a photo of the mural from the ‘Beaches Banksy”.
“I get asked if I’m the real Banksy a lot,” David jokes about the English famous street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remains unconfirmed.
“I just wish I had his bank balance!”
To contact David, visit facebook.com/ airbrushingdavidbrown.