Next chapter of a community led mural unveiled at York Way Estate

Posted 17/10/2023

Members of the York Way Estate and local community have once again come together to create the second part of an inspiring mural that is taking centre stage on the hoarding at Higgins Partnerships’ new development.

Residents attended a series of workshops learning about different design themes and explored their creativity before helping the team paint the final artwork on the hoarding.

Rose Hill Co-Creative Connection Founder and Muralist comments, "Murals are such an amazing way to bring a community together! It's incredible seeing people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life taking part! We love adding colour to transform an area into a joyful space! That's what Co-Creative Connection is all about, bringing people together to learn, create and paint.

“This vibrant mural in York Way is a perfect example. It's been wonderful to get to know everyone on this project and it's fantastic to see some familiar faces from our last mural project play an even bigger role. We've made friends for life and CCC has found some new mural artists to help with our future projects, which is very exciting.

“The incredibly happy reactions from people passing by shows how much this project means to the Islington community. Co-Creative Connection is committed to our mission of supporting and encouraging everyone from all walks of life to be creative and build confidence, communication skills, connection, and artistry, one mural and workshop at a time. This is at the heart of everything we do and the decisions we make!" 

Sonam, who lives on the estate and took part in the workshops, expressed an interest in working further with Co-Creative Connection. She will be joining them for upcoming projects for a paid position. She said, “Working with Rose on a mural project has been an absolute delight and an enriching experience. Her extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion for art transformed what could have been a simple mural into a masterpiece that will forever captivate our community. Rose's warm and friendly personality made the entire experience enjoyable. She encouraged us to be actively involved in the creative process, valuing our input and ideas.

“This collaborative spirit not only enriched the project but also made us feel like we were part of something truly special. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with her and wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a transformative and unforgettable artistic experience."

Sean and his service users also enjoyed the workshops and created his own repeat pattern inspired by the NHS to represent occupational therapy and how human connection is essential to our wellbeing. Sean said, “Rose facilitated the workshop and cultivated a fantastic atmosphere that empowered service users to tap into their creative potential. The feedback from the service users was incredibly positive, highlighting how engagement in activities can be a transformative medium for enhancing mental well-being, providing an opportunity for social inclusion and enabling people to contribute to their local community.”  

Amy Reynolds, Director of ESG at Higgins Partnerships comments, “It's wonderful to see residents come together to explore their creative sides and learn new skills through the work we are doing with Rose and her team.

“Seeing the final artwork on display which showcases everyone’s artwork is really rewarding and I would like to thank residents and volunteers for taking part. I am sure they will have a sense of pride every time they walk past the hoarding and see their artwork on display.”

City of London Corporation has appointed Higgins Partnerships to deliver four new buildings with 91 new homes which will form part of the York Way Estate in the London Borough of Islington. Ranging in size from studios to four bedroom homes they sit alongside a new community centre, extensive play areas and gardens where residents can grow vegetables.

All the flats will be for Government subsidised social rent and achieve a high Home Quality Mark, reducing energy bills for residents and lessening impacts on the environment. Half of the homes will be given to tenants of Islington Council.