Bonnie Tyler's hometown pays tribute with new mural

9 minutes ago Aimee Thomas BBC Wales , Skewen BBC Bonnie Tyler's mural has been unveiled at Skewen Memorial Park in Neath Port Talbot A mural of Bonnie Tyler has been unveiled in her hometown as a tribute to the global star "who never forgot her roots". Hundreds lined the streets of Skewen , in Neath Port Talbot, where she was born and raised, to pay their respects on the day of her funeral.

Artist Steve Jenkins, who painted the piece at Skewen Memorial Park, said it was "important" and the "pressure was on" to get the artwork right for the community. The mural features a large picture of Tyler's face, as well as references to the local rugby club and Total Eclipse of the Heart - one of her best-known hits.

Speaking to BBC Wales, walkers passing the mural described the tribute as "fantastic". Susan Petrosillo, 61, from Skewen, said she was "very, very proud". "It's absolutely fantastic what they've done.

It's such a lovely park as well," she said. "She was such a big part of Skewen and still is." Susan Petrosillo says it was "amazing" seeing everyone come together for Bonnie Tyler's funeral Petrosillo added: "On the day of her funeral, the hearse came through Skewen and the amount of people who came out for that was amazing." Michael Davies went to school with Bonnie Tyler and knew her "quite well" For those who grew up alongside her, like Michael Davies, the mural is a chance to remember someone they knew long before she became a global superstar.

"I was in school with her, so I did know her quite well," he said. "She was a Skewen girl, so it's tremendous." Bob Marney said the rugby club emblem in the corner of the painting was important, as that's where Tyler performed her first audition Bob Marney, 84, said the reference to the local rugby club - an emblem in the corner of the painting - was particularly significant.

"The rugby club is where she had her first audition," he said. "I'm really impressed [by the mural]. "She's a legend.

She was down to earth, never forgot her roots. She never forgot Skewen." The artist says the colourful side of Tyler's face represents how her music will live on, while the black-and-white side reflects the artwork's role as a memorial For artist Jenkins, capturing Tyler's likeness came with "huge responsibility".

"I knew that I had to get it really accurate because of the emotions tied with Bonnie," he said. "I knew that the family and the whole community were going to get quite emotional about seeing this, so it was important. The pressure was on." Artist Steve Jenkins says the mural design evolved several times before reaching its final form Jenkins, known as Jenks Art, said the design evolved several times before reaching its final form.

"The first mock-up we had had Mumbles Lighthouse in the background," he said. "But [with Tyler] being so proud of being from Skewen, we decided to put Skewen Park in the background." He added the two-tone design of Tyler's face also carried a deeper meaning. "As I was painting it, and as I was being approached by people, it became apparent that her music is going to live on.

"And that's sort of represented in the colour side of the face, and then, being a memorial piece, the black-and-white side of the face represents that." More Top Stories