A pensioner in the Russian town of Borovsk near Moscow has found an unusual way of recording local culture. He decorates the walls of his town with murals depicting scenes from its 800-year history, as well as with images of his contemporaries.

Situated 80 km south-west of Moscow, Borovsk was founded in the 13th century. It has hosted many famous people, including Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a pioneer of space exploration, or the French Emperor Napoleon, who fled Russia via this town.

Vladimir Ovchinnikov settled in the town in 1998. A retired economics researcher, he found he had plenty of time to spend on his lifetime hobby – painting. He doesn’t say what exactly inspired him to take up painting murals, simply stating “It was pre-determined”.

Local fire brigade on parade, 1918

The armateur painter’s main theme is the history of Borovsk. His murals open a window on the past: a portrait of a local merchant’s family is painted on the wall of his former shop, a pumping station near a bridge over the Protva River bears a mural of a famous Naval admiral standing on this very bridge, a funny portrait of the poet Aleksandr Pushkin, who reportedly was not at all fond of Borovsk, calling it “a swinish town” (borov means a hog in Russian).

The idea to depict the town’s past was suggested by Vladimir Ovchinnikov’s wife and co-author, the poetess Elvira Chastikova. Together they come up with concepts for new murals and together they carry out research so that the paintings are historically accurate. Ms Chastikova also provides poetic captions for her husband’s works.

A globe map of Borovsk

Mr Ovchinnikov wants to make sure all the town’s achievements are recorded. But he doesn’t mind painting everyday scenes like the picture of his neighbour and daughter or an old lady putting a bucket under a drainpipe.

The bricked-up windows of old houses in Borovsk are yet another canvas for Vladimir Ovchinnikov. He covers them with paintings of people inside – reading newspapers, looking out through a curtain or drinking tea.

When news of the artist spread, tourists flocked to the town to see his work. To help them find their way around Mr Ovchinnikov has painted a globe map of the town.

With winter coming, Borovsk's artistic archivist will be taking a break from his work. He will spend the cold season preparing for next summer, thinking of what part of the town’s past, present or future he'll depict next.