Painting of the Gresham Houses Murals
Project title
Painting of the Gresham Houses Murals
Venue
Middlesbrough Storytelling Festival
Year
2026
About the Work
As part of the Storytelling Festival, I worked under the project management of Nocciola The Drawer, in partnership with Creative Factory and the Institute for Collective Place Leadership (Teesside University), with additional support from Harriet Mee. Together we created two large-scale co-designed murals for Gresham Houses on Princes Street, Middlesbrough.
My mural, Skies of Home, celebrates belonging, connection and the people who make Middlesbrough feel like home. Brought to life through workshops with local families, children and participants from the Washed Up project, the piece weaves together stories, memories and experiences from across the town. Drawing inspiration from Middlesbrough's big skies, changing weather, rainbows, the River Tees, the North Sea coast and the journeys that thread through the area, its flowing colours reflect creativity, movement and shared experience. Small karate figures woven into the design represent resilience, confidence and growth - a balance of strength and calm. Together, the colours, symbols and stories create a shared space that honours the diversity, creativity and community spirit of Middlesbrough.