“Drooko” was the trading name of Joseph Wright, an umbrella manufacturer born in Airdrie who set up his Glasgow business in the 1880s. Wright was also a lay preacher, philanthropist and writer. The Drooko brand placed adverts as far afield as New Zealand.
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Wright manufactured Drooko umbrellas between approximately 1885 and 1912.
Created by Make It Glasgow and commissioned by Network Rail Scotland, Drooko now greets passengers in the stairwell at the Argyle Street exit on the station’s lower level. The original survives only in fragmentary photographs held by The Hunterian at Glasgow University, with the new piece bringing it back to life in colour using ceramic decals and handmade tiles.
In a contemporary twist, the surrounding tiles are made using a “smog-glaze”, an art material created from dust collected at the station
With additional funding from the Railway Heritage Trust, the project has brought together teams from across Scotland’s Railway, including ScotRail, alongside cultural partners: The Hunterian Art Gallery and Museum, University of Glasgow, Glasgow City Archives, Mitchell Library, Alasdair Gray Archive, and The Glasgow School of Art.
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The installation also adds to the station’s wider artistic story, linking to existing works including the concourse mosaics by Jude Burkhauser and the legacy of the Glasgow Girls.
The poster was criticised in the local press at the time due to the ‘severity of its composition’ and its ‘representation of the female form’. Despite this, it was exhibited publicly at the 1896 Art Institute Exhibition in Glasgow.
The poster features elongated female figures rendered in a stylised, dreamlike Art Nouveau form. According to notes written by Margaret herself, the design was based on the Umbelliferous plant, the plant from which the word “umbrella” derives, many species of which are considered dangerous.
Catherine Ospedale, director of communications at Network Rail Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic example of what can happen when people come together with a shared vision. The mural not only celebrates Glasgow’s artistic heritage but also shows how our stations can be places of creativity and community.”
The unveiling comes as we reported today that Glasgow City Council has announced that Union Street will fully re-open later this month following the devastating fire in March.
The blaze, which began in a vape shop, destroyed the building which housed it and and the one on the corner with Gordon Street, as well as causing damage to Glasgow Central station.
Union Street has been partially closed ever since while demolition work is carried out, but the council has now announced it will fully re-open on July 17.
Yvonne Blair, programme controls manager at Network Rail Scotland, said: “It’s been incredibly rewarding to help bring this project to life, working with such a talented group of partners. The mural reflects both the rich heritage of Glasgow Central and the collaborative spirit of the railway today, creating something that passengers can enjoy for years to come.”
The mural reimagines a rare 1890s advertising design by Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh and her sister Frances (Image: Network Rail)
It was also confirmed that Glasgow Central will reopen fully on July 17, with the main entrance to Gordon Street and a side entrance to Union Street having been closed since the fire.
The exclusion in place around the east corner of the station will be removed on July 13.
Glasgow City Council said it is ‘considering’ proposals to transform the area, and it was announced last week an architect has been appointed to develop a concept design for the ‘meanwhile use’ of the site, meaning the next four years.
Louise Nolan, co-director of Make It Glasgow, said: “It’s been a privilege to reimagine Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh’s work and bring it into such a busy public space. Using smog from the station in the tiles connects the past and present in a direct, human way.”
Paul McKay, ScotRail communications director, added: “It’s great to see this new mural on the Glasgow Central Low Level stairwell where thousands of people will be able to appreciate it every day.
“The artwork gives this part of the station a creative boost, and ScotRail is proud to be a part of this reimagining of the city’s cultural heritage with its links to the famous Glasgow Girls.”
Make It Glasgow described the project as “the perfect addition to this part of Glasgow known as ‘the Hielanman’s Umbrella’ used by the Highland folk coming to Glasgow and sheltering from the rain.”
A spokesperson for the Railway Heritage Trust said: “We have been pleased to support Network Rail with this project to improve the Argyle St entrance to Glasgow Central. As a modern entrance to the station, we were pleased to give a grant so that it could be enhanced with this artwork celebrating a beautiful design by Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh.”