We hired Holly Greenwood to design a mural on the temporary hoardings located outside Wakefield One on Burton, Street at the junction of Cliffe Lane. The site is right next to a new sculpture by Andy Holden, which is one of the 6 major city centre public art works that make up the art trail from Wakefield Westgate Station to The Hepworth Wakefield.

We asked Holly to think about painting an ‘urban garden’ mural that would connect with the ideas in Andy Holden’s art. Andy’s work was influenced by the first-ever nature reserve made by Charles Waterton in the 1820s at Walton Hall in Wakefield. Andy, inspired by Waterton, aimed to highlight some native British birds that are disappearing fast. He did this by turning recordings of their songs into bronze sculptures shaped like sound waves.

In reaction to where Andy’s sculptures are and the ideas they represent, Holly’s mural shows important city landmarks blending into a countryside scene. This scene is filled with local animals, including the birds featured in Andy’s sculptures.

This mural is part of Our Year Crossings & Gateways.