Can you tell us about the vision for the mural and how you approached its design?

I wanted the work to reflect the area as much as possible so it seemed fitting to use a map of Eckington and get members of the community to put things on the map that they thought were important to Eckington.

What were some of the challenges you faced while creating the tile mural, and how did you overcome them? 

Having the space to facilitate the mural was difficult. Each piece had to be dried slowly to prevent warping so sections were slowly uncovered a bit at a time. Having an empty summer house has been beneficial, but it's been a very slow process.  

How did the local community in Eckington contribute to the project, and what role did their input play in the final piece?

The Heritage group were very helpful, telling me about the history of the area and what important buildings needed to be represented.  Having good general knowledge of the area has been such a great contribution to the project. Other people in the community have been helpful in creating generic things like trees and flowers to add to the woods and the park areas. If an area was a bit sparse the community have been there to fill it.

What message or feeling did you hope to convey through the mural, and why is it significant to this village?

Togetherness has been a strong theme throughout the project. People from all walks of life have come together to contribute to the mural. People who didn't know each other were chatting about their connection to Eckington. It's been a really inclusive project.

How do you think public art like this mural can impact the community, both immediately and in the long term?

The immediate impact when the mural gets installed is having an area in the centre of Eckington revamped; hopefully, the mural will create a space for people to reflect and engage with the artwork. I hope that people involved feel proud of what they have achieved and have a sense of belonging. I hope it will be a legacy of the project. 

In your opinion, what makes this mural unique compared to other public art projects you’ve worked on?

This piece of work has been made by the community for the community. Usually with a project like this, I will get community groups involved in creative consultations to help with ideas and contribute to the designs, but I would make the final piece. This has been a natural development with the community involved from the start to the very finish. From rolling out the clay tiles to glazing the pieces. 

As an artist, what does the concept of legacy mean to you, and how do you hope this mural will leave a lasting impact on Eckington and its residents?

Due to the nature of the work, I hope that the piece will be on display for a long time. I hope the people of the community will continue to visit the piece but the legacy for me is the memories that have been created... I hope they continue to talk about the project and remember how they felt making their tile and I hope they feel proud of their involvement. My part of the project is putting all the pieces together and seeing the piece for the first time.

How do you feel about the idea of art being a part of the community’s everyday life? 

I think it's great that the work is on display for the wider community it will enjoyed by everyone... even if it's just a quick glance while running for a bus or if visitors choose to take a seat and engage with the piece longer... I think having art in the community makes people more likely to engage with future projects.

Do you see this project as a starting point for more collaborations like it?

I would love to do more collaborative work with the community. I think local people really add another dimension to artwork that is created with them in mind. 

How do you hope future generations will engage with or interpret the mural as time passes?

Because we have chosen a limited palette and quite a contemporary layout, I think young people will engage with the piece well. Although the majority of the people who created the mural were adults, there are some recognisable elements on the mural that will resonate with young people. I've already had people excitedly trying to find the street where they live so hopefully people will continue to engage with the piece in years to come.