A hand-painted portrait of different generations of the Pearlies was unveiled as part of the Leytonstone Arts Trail on Sunday (19th July)
A new large-scale mural celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Pearly Kings and Queens was unveiled in Leytonstone on Sunday (19th July).
Hand-painted at more than full scale on the wall of The Red Lion pub, the artwork reproduces a photograph of different generations of the Pearlies, who are based at The Social, Leytonstone Ex-Servicemen’s Club.
Rooted in the costermonger communities of the 1870s, the Pearly Kings and Queens grew from London’s East End street traders into one of the capital’s most beloved working-class traditions.
For 150 years, Pearlies have encapsulated the spirit of charity, solidarity and neighbourhood pride, raising money for good causes while keeping alive a distinctive, hand-crafted visual culture built entirely from mother-of-pearl buttons.
The mural brings that tradition to life through a new collaboration between photographer Owen Harvey and muralist Emma Rubens. Harvey’s portrait, taken specifically for the wall composition, was developed over more than a year of conversations between the project team and the Pearlies themselves.
Rubens, who lives close to the mural location in Leytonstone, has translated the photograph into a hand-painted work at full building scale. The different generations of Pearlies depicted are: Jack James – Pearly King of Royal Kensington, Wendy Loftus – Pearly Queen of The Borough, and Shannon Crowe – Pearly Queen of Haggerston.
The project has been funded, produced and delivered by Wood Street Walls, a community interest company specialising in co-designed public murals across East London and the UK, in partnership with Works in Public.
The mural forms part of the Leytonstone Arts Trail 2026.
Muralist Emma Rubens said: “I feel incredibly grateful to have been invited to create this mural. Throughout the process of this mural I have constantly been learning about the history of the Pearlies through the local Pearly Kings and Queens who generously shared the stories, traditions and meanings behind what they do.
“As I learned that every button is hand-sewn, every pattern has its own significance and many of the buttons themselves have been passed from one generation to the next, I realised these weren’t simply beautiful suits, they are living family heirlooms. “Throughout the time I was painting, so many people stopped to ask about the mural, and it was wonderful to see the curiosity about the history of the Pearlies. I hope this artwork continues to spark those conversations for years to come.”
Sharon Crowe, from the Pearlies Association, said: “We hope this mural inspires people to learn about our heritage and the values of kindness, generosity and service that continue to define us today. The Pearly Kings and Queens are not just part of London’s history—we are still proudly serving our communities today.”
Local news needs your support
We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
ACT NOW!
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
