Before & After
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The Brief
Keeping the community at the heart of the designs, artist Rose Hill held a series of six community workshops for residents and local people to work on the final design of the mural over the summer of 2022.
Encapsulating the past, present, and future of Teviot, inspiration came from a wide variety of sources including the Platinum Jubilee celebrations; the Scottish heritage of the original owner of Teviot; African and Islamic artwork to reflect residents’ ethnic backgrounds and flags and rainbows to reflect the inclusivity of the community.
Supported by: The Hill Group, Poplar Harca, Leaders in the Community, and Dulux.
The Process
This creative venture was proposed as a way to strengthen ties between the local population, aiding in building a foundation of unity, collaboration, and inclusivity for future residents.
Through the first few sessions, Rose guided the participants to explore their creative side. Various mood boarding sessions allowed the individuals to learn about colour theory, using different art materials, placement, and pattern work.
The participants then took part in discussion sessions on their culture, values, and what was most important to them. From this discussion stemmed the final design, where the participants used the "square" space method inspired by artist Piet Mondrian to design a part of the final mural. The participants worked with Rose to help fine-tune their designs so that they reflected their values, culture, and community.
“Whilst helping in the creation of the mural, I felt like I was part of something truly positive for our community. Not only has the art outwardly brightened our community, but this project has created an opportunity for all generations to get together and chat every week. Hopefully, I have made some friends for life through this process.”
Falone Bulsa, Local Resident.
The Outcome
The residents, a local artist Mona Sharif, and Rose Hill came together to paint the 11-meter high by 9-meter wide mural over 18 days in August and September 2022.
Capturing the essence of the regeneration project, references to the sun were used to symbolise a bright future, abundant with opportunities for the residents
Coming to an end on the 24th of September, residents had a final opportunity to take part in the painting of the mural at the annual ‘Our Teviot’ summer festival.
Attracting forty-seven participants, the art piece became a captivating talking point for the wider community, both for those directly involved and the countless keen observers.
About The Design
Learn about the individuals who participated in this project and the thought process behind the design choices for each section of the mural.
Falone designed the positive-negative design that expresses phenomenal (spelled with an F) female FF and wanted to illustrate the infinity sign and sun to symbolise a bright future, abundant with opportunities each day. Using skills taught during the workshops, Falone also wanted to incorporate the stripe pattern to incorporate the sea and the horizon.
“We worked on a wonderful art wall as a community project. The experience was amazing as we initially signed up just for the children but found it suitable for both me as the adult/parent but also for the children as we were able to expand on our understanding of art through learning about patterns. Not only was it a great learning experience but also a great bonding and therapeutic time for my family. My daughter constantly would ask for Rose as she loved how warm her character! Thank you for allowing us to be part of this journey and we hope to be apart of some more projects in the near future!” Falone Balusa Project Participant 2022
Malachi designed the diagonal stripes, spots and all-over prints after learning about all the different elements in the creative workshops.
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Amara created the scale print inspired by her mermaid doll, after learning about scale repeats.
Miriam incorporated the learnings from the workshop through checks, dot repeat, and positive-negative design
Sandra was drawn to the positive-negative designs and warm colours.
“My children and I had a great experience. Rose was amazing and was fantastic with the kids, I really enjoyed how Rose went through the colour theory and patterns. Every session was therapeutic for me as I was going through a difficult time and the workshop provided the time needed to support my well-being. Plus My daughter loved going to the workshop as she has a passion for all things art. Great bonding time with the family. Furthermore, I am pleased to be part of the community project Would definitely recommend!” Sandra Balusa Project Participant 2022
R-Urban a local Community garden and Michelle a project participant inspired this sustainable design of tomatoes, oranges and courgettes.
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“Enjoying everything about the workshop, having an input in the community project. I feel apart of something positive for the community" Michelle Project Participant 2022
Abigail incorporated an inspiration of the congo flag for our final mural.
“LOVE everything!! I like working with Rose and Elika asked for her at the weekend” Abigail Project Participant 2022
MacIntosh Tartan that reflects the
original Scottish land owners who named the estate "Teviot." This was contributed by Paul Mancrief.
Jomelia designed a polka repeat from patterns that she learned about in the workshops.
Elikia incorporated her love for the colour red and stripe patterns after learning about them in our creative workshops
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Naushin and her two sons Ammar and Zahair Ahmed inspired the Islamic and Arabic art.
“I met rose at a workshop in our community centre. She is a fantastic lady, so friendly and easy going.Recently she contacted me to take part in mural wall painting in our area.I love the wall she and her team painted.Me and my sons also did some painting and we loved that.She guided us every step. Thanks Rose you are lovely” Naushin Ahmed Project Participant 2022
Teviot action group (The Coffee Morning Group) incorporated the LGBTQIA2S+ flag to further support the many ways in which individuals choose to self-identify. They also asked for the unique Poplar trees because they're only found in Poplar. Painting the mural in the Summer of 2022 the group wanted the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to be included in the design. Together we came up with the bunting in red, white, and blue to represent the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Zyon was inspired by the warm colours and chevron designs that he learned about during the workshop.
We incorporated a wooden block art carving inspired by the African (congo-kinshasa) method.
“Community engagement has always been central to our regeneration plans. We strongly believe that local residents should be placed at the heart of the design process and this mural is a visual reminder of this pact. Its bold, contrasting patterns reflect the multitude of voices that helped create this striking mural. Due to the success of this project, we hope to incorporate similar projects in the future.”
Kelly Player, Social Value Manager at The Hill Group
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Frequently Asked Questions
How were creative decisions made during the mural design process?
Creative decisions were shaped by participants themselves. Using what they learned in workshops, like colour theory and pattern-making, they worked closely with Rose to refine individual contributions into a unified, community-driven design. The final mural reflects both personal expression and collective vision.
What artistic techniques or frameworks were used in the workshops?
One of the key techniques was the "square space" method, inspired by Piet Mondrian’s grid-based layouts. Participants also explored positive-negative design, scale repeats, and colour harmonies, allowing each person to build a visually distinct yet cohesive piece.
What was the balance between individual freedom and collaborative design?
Every participant had the freedom to design a section based on their values, stories, or inspirations. These pieces were then carefully arranged into a single mural composition, creating a sense of unity through colour, repetition, and shared themes.
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How did the workshops encourage creativity in participants of all ages?
Sessions were designed to be open-ended, hands-on, and supportive. Children could bring their imagination to life, while adults explored cultural heritage or emotional expression through patterns and symbols. Everyone was encouraged to try new techniques regardless of skill level.
Were there any challenges in bringing all the different ideas together into one mural?
With such a diverse mix of ideas, the biggest challenge was ensuring every voice felt heard and represented. This was overcome by building the mural from modular squares, which allowed each contribution to shine individually while still fitting into a larger whole.
What role did art play in supporting well-being during the project?
Many participants described the sessions as therapeutic, especially those going through difficult times. The calm, creative atmosphere, paired with meaningful conversation and hands-on work, offered both emotional release and a sense of connection.
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What materials were used to create the mural?
The mural was painted using high-quality, weather-resistant masonry exterior paints supplied by Dulux. These paints were chosen for their durability, colour retention, and ability to withstand the varying British climate.
What surface was the mural painted on?
The mural was painted directly onto a rendered external wall of one of the Teviot Estate buildings. Prior to painting, the surface was cleaned, primed, and prepared to ensure proper paint adhesion and longevity.
How long did it take to paint the mural?
The painting process took place over 18 days across August and September 2022, with different members of the community joining in throughout this period.
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