A YEAR-LONG project to celebrate Selkirk and its traditions in mosaic was unveiled on Saturday on the walls of the town’s flood defences.

And many of the 19 characters depicted in the stunning artwork, as well as their families, have given it the thumbs up.

Artist Svetlana Kondakova won the commission to transform a 200-metre section of the flood walls at the start of last year.

For the past 12 month she has met with historians, Common Riding officials and many other people involved with the Selkirk's celebrations and customs.

And she has masterfully created a lasting legacy demonstrating a festival which stretches back some 500 years.

Svetlana told us: “This has been the biggest and most important project of my life.

“I’m grateful to have had so much support from everyone in the town.

"I have grown so close to Selkirk and its people over this past year.

“I’m already booked in to come down and enjoy the Common Riding this year - I have learned so much about it I can’t wait to just relax and enjoy the whole festival without thinking about how I can recreate something.”

The Common Riding section of Svetlana’s artwork features some of the most prominent characters of days gone by, including Standard Bearers John Douglas, Tom Watson, Thomas Kerr and Danny Hislop.

Danny’s son, David, flew into Scotland from his home in France to witness Saturday’s unveiling.

He said: “When I heard about the project on social media I contacted Svetlana and sent photos of my dad, who was the first Standard Bearer after the Second World War in 1946.

“I think the mosaic of my dad is absolutely amazing and so close to the original photo of him on horseback coming in at The Toll.”

The great-great granddaughter of Thomas Kerr, Casey Gillie, also features in the more present-day depiction of the Common Riding.

The 12-year-old, who has ridden the Marches five times with mum Shirley, is delighted with the artwork.

She said: “I can’t believe how life-life they are.”

Others depicted from more recent Common Ridings include Standard Bearers Douglas Gunn and David Mitchell.

And the first woman to ever cast a flag, 2014 Ex-Soldiers Association Standard Bearer Fiona Deacon, also features.

Selkirk Silver Band stalwart John Nichol has also been immortalised in mosaic.

He said: “These mosaics all have such great resemblance.

“It is a huge privilege for me to be included.

“Music plays a huge part of the Common Riding and Svetlana decided the best way to show this was me playing the Silver Band drum.”

Another prominent figure in the Common Riding for decades has been David Williamson, who is proud of his inclusion.

He told us: “It is a great thrill for me and my family to be included and I can’t believe how life-like Svetlana has been able to create all of us.”

James Heatlie, who recently retired as Burleyman after 16 years in post, is another to feature on the flood wall.

James said: “To be part of something like this is marvellous.

“Svetlana has absolutely captured the spirit of the Common Riding and the people involved with the Common Riding.”

As well as the Festival section of the installation, a community effort produced 94 leaping salmon which swim along much of the 200-metre wall section.

And, following a public vote earlier this year, Scout leader and prominent community figure Graham Coulson is featured taming a mythological kelpie – a metaphorical representation of the flood threat once posed by the Ettrick.

A total of three art installations will eventually be placed in and around the flood defences.

As well as the legacy mosaics, a tribute to fictional canine Black Bob is taking shape at Philiphaugh, and a play installation will be situated next to the Arches, on the Bannerfield side of the new footbridge, later this year.

Connor Price, who was the project manager of the £32.1 million flood defence scheme, introduced Svetlana during Saturday’s unveiling ceremony.

He said: “We wanted this to be Selkirk’s project and we asked Svetlana to take forward that aspect of her suggestion.

“We are endlessly delighted with the end product that you all see on the walls here.”