Populo Living 1250-metre Art Trail
Before & After
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Transforming Stratford Through Creativity: The Populo Living Art Trail
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Partners: Co-Creative Connection (CCC), Populo Living
Location: Carpenters Estate, Stratford
Date: 2024
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The Vision
The Populo Living Art Trail is a transformative project that redefines public spaces in Stratford by fostering creativity, connection, and community pride. Building on the success of the 2023 Populo Living mural, this initiative sought to scale up these values, creating vibrant, interactive environments that engage residents of all ages. By directly involving the community in the design and creation process, the trail aims to celebrate collective creativity, enhance shared spaces, and leave a lasting legacy of joy, collaboration, and inclusivity in Stratford.
The Journey
Community-Driven Design: Inspired by community input gathered during the 2023 Populo Living mural project, CCC’s founder, Rose Hill, reimagined these designs for the 2024 Art Trail, expanding them into larger, vibrant pieces that reflect the spirit and aspirations of Stratford.
Bringing the Art Trail to Life: Volunteers, local participants, and paid artists came together to hand-paint two 34-metre murals, create a 25-square-metre interactive floor piece, and install colourful planters and play features. Over 1300 boot prints linked every element, transforming Stratford into a vibrant, interactive art trail full of creativity and connection.
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Populo Living 1250-metre Art Trail
"I had the pleasure of experiencing the community mural project in Newham with Rose Hill, it was truly a celebration of the local culture and community there. Each design told a personal story, and you could feel the voices and hearts of the community through the bold, colorful artwork. The vibrancy of the murals brought the rich cultural tapestry of the residents ato life, making it not just an art project but a reflection of the people who call this place home." - Emily Cinnamon, Project Participant
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The Impact
The Populo Living Art Trail has redefined Stratford’s public spaces, transforming them into vibrant hubs of connection, creativity, and joy. The murals and interactive elements invite people of all ages to engage, whether hopping along the alphabet ladder, exploring the colourful boot-print trail, or admiring the community-inspired designs.
For the local community, this project has fostered a sense of pride and belonging, turning overlooked spaces into celebrated landmarks. Volunteers and participants walked away with new skills, stronger connections, and the knowledge that their efforts created something truly extraordinary.
The trail stands as a lasting testament to the power of collaboration, showing how creativity can unite a community and leave a meaningful legacy.
"Every day when I leave my flat in Carpenters Estate, E15, I am delighted by the stunning artwork created by Rose and her team on the sidewall. The vibrant and beautiful designs have truly transformed the area. I was so impressed that I offered to help, and Rose warmly welcomed my support. That day, I not only contributed to the artwork but also found a few wonderful friends . Her creativity and community spirit are truly inspiring. I highly recommend Rose and her team for any art projects—they bring joy and beauty to the neighborhood!" - Mohammad Hosseini Naei, Project Participant
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What Our Partners and Participants Had To Say
Clare, Populo Living
T.K, Project Participant
About The Design
The Populo Living Art Trail is a 1250-metre celebration of community creativity, transforming Stratford’s public spaces into vibrant hubs of colour, connection, and play. Building on the designs from our 2023 mural project, this trail reimagines walls, floors, and everyday objects into interactive artworks that inspire joy and unity. Each element tells a story of collaboration, showcasing the power of art to bring people together and reimagine shared spaces.
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Two Hand-Painted Murals
The two 34-metre murals draw inspiration from the community’s original designs, transforming walls into vibrant showcases of local creativity. These murals celebrate Stratford's diversity, blending bold patterns and colours to create a cohesive and uplifting visual narrative.
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The Interactive Floor Art
This 25-square-metre floor design invites movement and play, with elements like hopscotch and an alphabet ladder that engage people of all ages. Every step on the interactive artwork encourages joy, connection, and active participation.
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The Play Pieces
Five interactive play features - including games, hopscotch, and a colourful alphabet ladder—bring fun and functionality to public spaces. Designed for all ages, these pieces foster intergenerational connection and make the trail a lively hub for activity.
The Colour-Blocked Planters and Walls
Brightly painted planters and walls infuse the area with vibrant energy, creating visually striking focal points in previously overlooked spaces
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The Boot Print Trail
Over 1,300 playful boot prints connect every part of the art trail, guiding visitors through the experience and unifying the elements into a cohesive journey. The boot prints are both a physical and symbolic reminder of shared creativity and community involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did the art trail take to complete?
The full process took six weeks, with the majority completed in two and half weeks. We ran creative sessions with residents, collaboratively painting the artworks. We hired a number of professional artists with a range of abilities, along with local volunteers.
How is this trail connected to the 2023 Populo Living mural?
This project builds on the success of the 2023 Populo Living mural – a 32-metre ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) artwork featuring smaller community-led designs. The 2023 Populo Living basketball court mural was a meanwhile project, designed to last up to 18 months. With this in mind, the new 1,250m art trail takes the same values of co-creation, joy, and local pride. As well as some original designs from that project and scales them across an even bigger space. It transforms everyday pathways into colourful, community-powered experiences that last for 10+ years throughout the regeneration project.
Why did you decide to create a trail instead of another mural?
The trail gives us a unique opportunity to think spatially, to connect meanwhile spaces through storytelling and movement. It's a way to reach more people, making the artworks part of daily life and encouraging exploration across the estate.
How did this trail expand on the values of the 2023 mural?
The 2023 mural focused on shared values like joy, culture, and identity - the trail takes the same principles and makes them interactive and immersive. We wove stories into pavements, and walls, inviting people to engage with their surroundings in new ways.
What impact has the art trail had on the community?
We've heard from residents that the trail sparks conversations, encourages local pride, and brings neighbours together. For many, it’s made the estate feel more vibrant, safe, and welcoming, and it’s become something they’re proud to show visitors!
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How were materials and techniques chosen for such a large outdoor space?
We used weatherproof, durable masonry water-based paints, thermoplastic's and materials designed for outdoor use, and carefully prepped each surface to make sure the work lasts. Safety and accessibility are always key considerations throughout the process.
What types of surfaces was the trail painted on?
The trail includes a mix of slab, tarmac, cobble pavements and brick wall sections. We worked creatively with the natural architecture of the estate to turn everyday surfaces into canvases for storytelling.
How did you decide what to paint where?
We worked closely with Newham Council, Populo Living, Highways and looked at the route as a whole and matched designs to the stories of each space. For example, some areas highlight local wildlife and nature, while others reflect community values or historic landmarks shared by residents. We received permissions and permits for all areas.
Is the art trail accessible to everyone?
We've heard from residents that the trail has sparked conversations, encouraged local pride, and brought neighbours together. For many, it’s made the estate feel more vibrant, safe, and welcoming, and it’s become something they’re proud to show visitors.
What types of surfaces was the trail painted on?
Yes - accessibility was a key priority. The trail is fully walkable and visible from public footpaths, and we designed it with colour contrast and scale in mind to ensure it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.
Can people still visit the trail?
Yes! The art trail is permanent and open to the public - we encourage anyone in the area to walk the full 1250m and take in the stories along the way.
Will you be doing more trails like this?
We’d love to. Large-scale, community-led art trails are a powerful way to bring people together and transform public space and we’re always open to hearing from partners and funders who’d like to make something similar happen elsewhere.
Could other housing developments or estates do something similar?
Definitely. This kind of co-created trail works brilliantly in communal areas, especially where there's a desire to celebrate local identity, increase engagement, or just brighten up the neighbourhood. We’d love to help other places bring their stories to life like this. Contact us if you'd like to explore how!