Bilton Grange Mural
A month-long 'pop-up shop' in the heart of the Bilton Grange estate helped design a new community consulted mural.
Commissioned by Hull City Council and Back To Ours, Lydia teamed up with aerosol artists Spray Creative to transform a wall on Bilton Grange Estate. The wall was designed collaboratively and was influenced by a month of consultation at Greenwich, a parade of shops located in the heart of the community. The project was an opportunity for Bilton Grange residents, past and present, to celebrate their identity by sharing memories of growing up on the estate as well as reflect on it's ongoing positive qualities.
Photography: Jerome Whittingham ©
Process
After weeks of chatting with the local community about what artwork they want to see created, the legendary Mick Ronson became the central focus, surrounded by roses from Greenwich's largely missed flowerbeds, the old Hull Spartans athletics track and the former shops’ awnings – all sights which would have been familiar to Ronson while growing up in the area.
One of the greatest musical talents of his generation, he was influential in changing the face of rock music and inspiring young musicians worldwide. Before achieving stardom, he worked as a gardener for Hull City Council in Alderman Kneeshaw Park aswell as a driver at the Co-Op opposite the mural, and always stayed true to his Hull roots.
Longhill and Bilton Grange Ward Councillor Julia Connor said:
“I feel very proud to have been involved in this project. The mural is truly magnificent and a credit to the artists Lydia Caprani, Ollie Marshall and Kain Marshall, from Spray Creative.”
Back To Ours Director Louise Yates adds:
“It’s been a wonderful opportunity to support local artists and work with the people of Bilton Grange on what they want to see. We’ve a great time chatting with the community and hearing all their ideas, and that’s what’s important to us. Back to Ours has always been, and always will be, about people, and they’ve been at the very heart of this project from the start. It was a lovely added surprise to have Maggi Ronson, Mick’s sister, coming along last week to see what’s happening.”
"In 2019, Back to Ours worked with Lydia, Spray Creative, Hull City Council and Bilton Grange residents to create a fantastic new piece of artwork for the area. As lead artist on the project Lydia was a pleasure to work with from start to finish, and really drove the consultation phase of the project, chatting with local residents and setting up a pop up mural shop – a space for people to come and chat and paint their own artwork.
Lydia listened carefully to everyone who engaged in the consultation process and took great care to consider people’s thoughts and memories from the Bilton Grange area. This culminated in the painting of a stunning mural reflecting the history of the neighbourhood,
that local people really feel invested in."
- Nesta Nelson
Producer, Back To Ours