Bermudian writers have been honoured with a colourful butterfly mural in Hamilton.

The mural on Angle Street is dedicated to the Bermudian poet, photographer and community activist Ras Mykkal and eight Bermudian women writers.

Dale Butler, the organiser of the community project, said that Mr Mykkal did not know about the mural until he arrived during its unveiling last week.

He said: “He was absolutely dumbfounded. As easy as it is for secrets to get out in Bermuda he didn’t have a clue we had been doing it for him.”

Mr Butler, a former Progressive Labour Party MP and culture minister, said that he was inspired by Mr Mykkal’s Bermuda’s Flying Flowers, the first book to focus on Bermudian butterflies.

He added that the mural was also a tribute to the eight Bermudian women writers who will receive the Crystal Butterfly Literary Awards next month.

He said: “Because Ras Mykkal was the first person to do a book on Bermudian butterflies, we were able to highlight him and also make it a celebration of him and the celebration of the women.”

Mr Mykkal earlier told The Royal Gazette that the caterpillar’s development into a chrysalis and butterfly demonstrates how education can be a natural process.

He said in interview about the book’s launch in 2016: “What I found fascinating about butterflies is you have this crawling creature that goes through metamorphosis, complete change, into something else that flies.

“It never went to school, but it knows to eat its way out.”

The mural was started near the end of February with the help of students, teachers and local artists.

Mr Butler said that the mural had an “uplifting effect” on the community after several tough years.

He explained: “It’s been a difficult five years with gun violence, fights in the street, people running through my yard and other people’s yards to escape a variety of people for a variety of reasons.

“Although the area’s been well policed and well supported by the Corporation of Hamilton, it’s not been an easy year.”

Mr Butler added: “Butterflies are something that children love and adults even admire, so they were very happy to see something bright and colourful.

“It’s definitely helped what we are calling the Heart of Hamilton. We don’t call it back of town, we don’t call it uptown, it’s the Heart of Hamilton.”