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Mural on shop wall celebrates community heritage

Louise FewsterYorkshire
News imageBBC/Louise Fewster A red bricked side wall of a shop with a red cherry picker on the left of the picture in front of the wall which has an outline of a fox. To the right of the fox is grey paint with letters of the alphabet on it and blue sky above. To the right of a building is a green bush and to the left of the building is a red brick wall with brown railings on top next to a red bricked house. BBC/Louise Fewster
The mural on the side of a shop celebrates the history of The Groves, its residents and nature

A community-inspired mural celebrating its history, residents and nature has been created on the side of a shop in York.

Previously a plain brick wall, the space on Lowther Street in The Groves now shows images of a fox wearing a cap, apples and the city's famous Bile Beans advertisement.

The project was funded by the Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Local street artist Tom Sledmore, who spent about a week painting the mural, said it has brought the community together and "brightens the place up".

Sledmore, known as SledOne, was chosen following a competition earlier this year to find an artist to bring a mural to life using the theme of local history and wildlife.

He created another mural on the same street in 2022 called "Welcome to the Groves", painted on the side of a restaurant.

For the latest artwork, he asked the local community for ideas to help reflect both the neighbourhood's past and present.

Along with the fox as the main focal point, the image references a Bile Beans advert - a 'ghost sign' seen on Lord Mayor's Walk.

The mural also features imagery of The Groves past, along with a cat hanging up washing.

"It is just a really fun piece, but still telling little bits of history," said the artist.

News imageBBC/Louise Fewster A woman is pictured in the centre of the image with short brown hair and wearing black rimmed glasses, wearing a brown cardigan and a blue top. She is stood in front of red brick and grey coloured wall with a brown wooded fence to the right of her shoulder. In the background are houses with grey roofsBBC/Louise Fewster
Lisa Green, chief executive of Door 84 Youth and Community Centre, said it is about improving how people feel about where they live

The application for funding was led by York charity Door 84, who commissioned the artwork as part of a community-backed project to improve The Groves area.

Charity chief executive Lisa Green said it had generated a great deal of interest from residents watching the artist in action.

"There is a lot of great history here, a lot of great community spirit in a tight-knit neighbourhood and there's also lots of support that's needed," she said.

"We live in a tough time, especially tough for young people, and to be able to see some hope and joy in the place you live, and some bright colours, I think is really, really important."

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