Sir Alexander Fleming

In the heart of Darvel, a small town in East Ayrshire once known for its lace manufacturing, a bold mural now breathes fresh life into the community’s identity. Painted by Glasgow-based street artist Rogue One, the work dominates the gable end of a building on the main street, depicting the town’s most famous son: Sir Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered penicillin. Against a glowing yellow-orange backdrop, Fleming is rendered in black and white with photographic precision, shown peering intently at a petri dish – a subtle nod to the moment in 1928 when he noticed that a mould was killing surrounding bacteria, sparking a medical revolution.

Commissioned by a local regeneration charity, the mural reflects a broader effort to restore pride in Darvel after the decline of its industrial base, which culminated in the closure of its last factory in 2009. Locals felt that Fleming’s legacy had been long overlooked in his hometown, despite his discovery saving millions of lives worldwide and earning him a Nobel Prize in 1945.

For residents like Tom McSkimming, who remembers Fleming visiting his childhood home in the 1940s, the tribute feels deeply personal. And for many, like Frank Donnelly, who received a medal from Fleming as a schoolboy in 1952, the scientist’s humility and achievements continue to inspire.

As plans take shape for a festival to mark the 100th anniversary of penicillin’s discovery in 2028, and with hopes to renovate the town’s modest Fleming Memorial Garden, this mural is more than just a painting. It’s a symbol of Darvel’s renewal – a vivid, defiant reminder of its enduring place in scientific history.