Celebrating Community Creativity: Our Eastfield’s Mural Project
- Rose Hill
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
We’re so excited to finally share more about our newest mural at Eastfield’s, Mitcham, created in partnership with Clarion Housing and JJ Rhatigan Construction! 🌟
This mural is the result of imagination, collaboration, and the power of public art to bring people together. From the very first ideas to the final brushstroke, this project has been all about co-creation, pride, and connection!
How It All Began
Our journey starts in March, when we hosted a mood board and design workshop at Acadia Adventure Playground. The room was alive with energy as 30 local children, aged 7–14, shared their hopes and ideas for the mural that would brighten their space.
Through drawings, colour swatches, and discussions, they explored the colours and shapes that made them feel happy, safe and proud, as well as their big ideas for how they wanted Eastfield's to feel for everyone. One lovely contribution was from Kim, who designed a symmetrical heart motif. She loved how the hearts also looked like butterflies, a symbol of transformation and joy. Mason brought his own splash of fun to the mural with his request for a bright orange triangle, adding a bold pop of colour and character. Flowers were another strong theme. Lucy’s mood board was filled with blooms, and many of the other children echoed this in their designs. When we spoke with local residents, they shared that they wanted poppies in the mural, since the estate is called Poppy Heights, so we made sure to include these meaningful flowers. Stars were another popular request, with Havana and several others asking for stars to light up the mural and bring a sense of wonder to the design. The blue circles featured in the mural were inspired by a pattern that kept appearing across many of the children’s mood boards, a kind of shared visual language that now flows through the finished piece. Together, these elements reflect their collective vision for a neighbourhood that feels playful, welcoming and full of possibility.
What stood out most was the sense of belonging and pride these young people felt, and their excitement at being part of shaping a piece of their neighbourhood.
Transforming Ideas into Art
Rose Hill founder and artist of Co-Creative Connection took all of these brilliant ideas and wove them together into a mural design that reflects the voices of the community. Then came the painting! Unlike our other community-painted murals, this piece was painted entirely by Rose due to health and safety requirements, as it involved working at height on an active site. Bringing together the children’s concepts in a cohesive, vibrant artwork that now brightens the space.
Every shape, pattern and colour has a story behind it, from symbols of fun and play to nods to nature. The mural is designed to feel joyful and welcoming, encouraging everyone who passes by to stop, smile, and feel proud of where they live.
Why This Project Matters
🌟 Public art can change how people feel about where they live. The Eastfield’s Estate mural transforms a once-plain wall into a source of local pride, proof of what’s possible when young people’s voices lead the way.
💬 Young people have powerful ideas. This project reaffirmed that when we give children the tools and trust to shape their environment, their ideas shine through with honesty and imagination.
🤝 Partnership makes projects stronger. Working alongside Clarion Housing, JJ Rhatigan Construction, Acadia Adventure Playground and the local community made sure this project was rooted in the needs and identity of the neighbourhood.
🎨 The process builds connection. The magic wasn’t just in the final piece, it was in the workshops, the conversations, the shared vision that grew along the way.
Looking Ahead: The Big Reveal
We’re thrilled to announce that the mural is now finished, and we’ll be unveiling it very soon! 🎉(date to be announced soon!)
We’d love for you to join us as we celebrate this wonderful collaboration and the creativity of the young people who inspired it. The unveiling is a chance to hear more about the process, meet some of the brilliant children who shaped the design, and see the mural in all its vibrant glory.
Reflections and Gratitude
This project highlights to us, as so many of our projects do, that art has the power to connect, to inspire, and to change how people feel about where they live. We’re so grateful to Clarion Housing, JJ Rhatigan Construction and Acadia Adventure Playground for their support, and to the children and families who brought so much heart and creativity to this work.
And as always, we’re reminded why we do what we do: because when people come together through art, incredible things happen.
Let’s Create Together
If you’re part of a school, council, housing association, charity or organisation looking to co-create something meaningful with your community, we’d love to chat.
💌 Get in touch with us to explore how we can bring colour, connection and creativity to your spaces.
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