Faded Laurens County Mural Restored by Local Artist

A historic mural in Laurens County, South Carolina, depicting a train scene, has been carefully restored by artist Janette Marvin and her daughter, Kathryn Lee, preserving a piece of local art and history.

The mural, originally painted years ago by the late artist Skip Shelton near Little River Park on East Main Street, had significantly faded over time, becoming barely visible. Marvin, familiar with Shelton’s work and a longtime muralist herself with pieces displayed at the Janette Marvin Studio and locations throughout the Upstate, took initiative to revive it. “My kids used to play in the park there. It was likely done to advertise the café but it was well done,” Marvin said. “I knew Skip. He was such a good artist and this mural really identified the location. I didn’t want it to disappear.”

The restoration process involved extensive cleaning to remove mildew and moss, research using old photographs of the original mural, and careful repainting to match Shelton’s style as closely as possible. While the advertisement for the now-closed River Tracks Café was omitted, the artists added a sky to the mural, which they say will help prevent future growth. Shelton’s murals can also be found at Westminster Elementary School and the train depot in Owings, demonstrating his widespread impact on public art in the region. Restoring public art like this helps maintain a community’s cultural identity and provides visual landmarks.

Marvin expressed hope that the restored mural will brighten the area and honor Shelton’s legacy. “We tried to get as close to the original as possible…Having known Skip and knowing that we have a similar style, I think I did something he would have approved of and we did the best we could,” she stated. County officials have praised the effort, and Marvin continues to accept commissions for new murals and canvas work.