Before & After

8 people are cheering and celebrating the completion of a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

Supported by: Mayor of London, Murgitroyd Foundation, London Catalyst, Peabody, Ryman, Maple People, Wood Street Walls, and Brewers Decorators.

The Brief

Tower Hamlets has a deep community spirit, but over the past year opportunities for people to celebrate and share that spirit together have disappeared. Our project built on the success of Sundial Community Centre’s oversubscribed art classes through collaboration and co-creation of a large unique mural design that celebrated the character of and rejuvenated the area.

After successfully gaining backers via crowdfunding and The Mayor Of London team, we were ready to begin.

Participants came from different backgrounds and had different needs. We partnered with several organisations and charities including:

Down Right Excellent (DEx) - Enabling young people with Down syndrome
Daycare - Residents with Dementia
East London Cares - Bringing older and younger people together
LinkAge plus - Innovative project for people over 50 living in Tower Hamlets
Mental health patients

The Process

Given the challenge of covid distancing requirements, we organised and ran workshops for 8 participants at a time in the run-up to the mural painting.

With ‌6 full-day workshops between June and July 2021, the participants worked from the beginning. From learning about colour and pattern theory, creating their own moodboards, and then being in charge of their own designated part of the mural.

Rose worked closely with the participants to design their own squares, creating their own patterns - and complimentary colours that would most resemble themselves and their community.

8 people are gathered around tables creating artwork at a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural workshop for the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

a lady is instruction an older person on creating art work at a a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural workshop for the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

"I’m delighted we were able to help make this project happen with support from City Hall. This beautiful new mural is a fantastic example of community-led art and celebrates the community spirit in Tower Hamlets. Local people from all backgrounds have come together to create this piece, and, and it is yet another example of how culture unites us and makes our public spaces so special.”

Justine Simons OBE,

Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries

Co-Creative Connection Sundial Mural Day 7 community involvement.jpg

Two people are painting on the a wall for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. Two other people are watching them paint.

The Outcome

The mural painting sessions ran between September and October, We partnered with Peabody, residents, and community groups to create a 25 x 8 meter community mural on the Sundial Community Centre in Tower Hamlets.

We supported participants in painting parts of the mural, whilst carefully managing health and safety, safeguarding, and risk assessments for the project.

The painting wrapped up in October, followed by an exciting unveiling event on 12th October 2021. The artwork was community-driven with participants actively involved in shaping the design, and we ensured that the final mural reflected this.

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.

A woman is smiling and giving a thumbs up posing in front of a completed Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. The photo is surrounded by a pink graphic boarder.

Yellow, orange, red, green and purple dots are painted in a line of 3 on the wall of a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. Next to the dots are some green diagonal stripes.

Justina Albert is a fan of bright and cheerful colours, and after learning abou them at the workshop - Justina wanted to find fun ways to incorporate colour theory on to the mural.

“I loved the project because it was something different, it was something new, it's something I’ve never done before. I enjoyed taking part in the shapes and colours and helping Rose to develop the whole mural.” - Justina Albert

After selecting some of her favourite colours, Joy Godsell designed specific parts of the mural using repetitive patterns that she had learned during the workshops.

A woman is drawing a scale pattern in a workshop for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. Below this photo is the scale pattern which is painted on the mural.

A woman is smiling and posing in front of a completed Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. The photo is surrounded by a orange graphic boarder.

"I was invited to help with this art creation, I was sceptical at first, but I’ve so enjoyed it"- Joy Godsell

A woman is sitting on the ground painting diamond shapes in blue red and green on a wall for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. It is surrounded by a yellow graphic boarder.

This a photo spilt in half, the top half is a red with white circles painted. The bottom half is the diamond shapes in blue red and green on a wall for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

Megan Scarty designed two opposing patterns for the mural. The first geometric design symbolised Megan's more negative feelings, whereas the design of the bubble symbolised a lighter, happier side of life.

Flava was really into cut-out art inspired by Henri Matisse after one of our workshops she attended. She took that style and made it her own, coming up with three designs for the mural.

This is a photo split into 3 sections, one section is a mood board with a flower design on paper and the other two sections are flowers and shapes painted in green blue and red on a section of a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

A woman is drawing a pattern in a workshop for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. The photo is surrounded by a green graphic boarder.

"I am so happy and grateful to be part of this course! Our Instructor Rose is so friendly, she makes all of us feel welcome and heard since day one. Working our creative abilities is very therapeutic, and a good exercise for a healthy mind. Creating together with the group brings a wonderful atmosphere of collaboration and a great sense of community. Many, many thanks for this opportunity!"

Flávia Santos

"Rose is an incredible artist and I gained more than I could have imagined by attending these workshops. It felt incredible to be included in designing the mural along with other participants as it gave me a huge sense of belonging, a place of safety, and something positive that I could mindfully engage in each week. I’m incredibly grateful to have participated in this workshop as it had so many positive impacts on my mental health symptoms and also gave me an opportunity to feel like I was contributing to the community." Megan Scarty

A woman is holding up a drawing and smiling in a workshop for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. The photo is surrounded by a white graphic boarder.

This is a diagonal striped patterned painted in pink and two shaped painted in light and dark green painted on the wall of a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

Ruth Finegan designed the following patterns for the mural - to signify repeating patterns that she learned about during the workshop..

Philomena Ting designed these fun and repeat style patterns for the mural.

This is a curved pattern shape painted in light orange with white dots on top, the wall is a dark blue and there are 6 of these curved shapes painted on a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

This is a woman patterns on paper at a workshop for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

This is a woman holding a paint brush painting on a wall for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. The photo is surrounded by a red graphic boarder.

This is a dark blue painted pattern and a chevron painted pattern in yellow on a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

Margaret loved learning about the positive-negative design during our workshops. After going on a trip to Margate, Margaret wanted to incorporate some of the location and the design skill on to the mural.

Pamela learned about the repeating dot pattern during our workshops and wanted to add these to the mural.

This is the finished mural painted with dark blue, red, yellow, green and purple shapes of a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London

This is a woman drawing patterns on paper at a workshop for a Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London. It is surrounded by a pink graphic boarder.

"Artist fundraising to paint mural designed through free workshops"

"Rose Hill’s community mural project receives a grand opening

Co-Creative Connection Sundial Mural Day 8 Maragret & Justina proud of triangle.jpg

“I would like to say that Rose has done an amazing job with this Mural and it really proves how hardworking she is as she managed to complete it within a matter of weeks, it looks astonishing and we all love it and I believe that it will leave a great legacy on the area as it really makes our centre stand out and I have witnessed passer-by’s gazing at the mural and taking pictures of it. Once again proving how amazing it is so thank you Rose for all your hard work”.

Mazeda, Dementia Support Worker

completed mural with the colours: Blue, Red, orange, green Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London.

A large group of people are looking up at a completed Co-Creative Connection Community Mural with the Mayor of London and London catalyst on the Peabody community centre. Tower Hamlets, London

Frequently Asked Questions

What made this project unique as CCC’s first ever mural?

This was the very first mural project we delivered as Co-Creative Connection! It laid the foundations for our co-creation approach, centring lived experience, celebrating community voices, and designing every detail alongside participants. The project helped define our values and how we run workshops today.

How was the mural design created?

Each section of the mural was shaped by participant ideas. In workshops, we explored colour theory, moodboarding, pattern-making, and personal storytelling. Everyone had the chance to design a square or motif representing their individuality or experiences, which were then woven together into the final design.

What materials were used for the mural?

We used high-quality, weather-resistant masonry paints suitable for large-scale exterior murals. These were supplied by our materials partner, Brewers Decorators, to ensure the mural remained vibrant and durable long-term.

BEST Day 14 Rose painting website close up (1).jpg

How long did the mural take to complete?

Painting took place across several weeks in September and October 2021, after the summer workshop period. The mural was fully completed in time for our unveiling event in October.

Were there any specific safety measures in place?

Yes! Because of Covid restrictions and participant needs, we ensured all workshops were small (up to 8 participants), and followed public health guidelines. For the painting phase, health and safety measures were taken seriously, including risk assessments, safeguarding protocols, and supervised sessions.

What was the impact of the mural on participants?

For many, the project offered a sense of connection, confidence, and purpose after a year of isolation. Some participants noted the positive effects on their mental health, creativity, and sense of belonging, something that meant even more after the isolation caused by the pandemic.

Co-Creative Connection Sundial Mural Day 7 Rose with Community explaining what to do Joy (

Was the project accessible to those with additional needs?

Absolutely. We worked with organisations such as DEx (supporting young people with Down syndrome), local dementia services, and mental health groups. The workshops were designed to be flexible, supportive, and welcoming to people of all abilities and ages.

How were weather and outdoor conditions managed during painting?

We monitored the weather closely and scheduled painting days during dry spells. Paints were quick-drying and weather-resistant, and we used scaffolding and shelter where needed to protect both painters and the artwork.

How were participants supported if they had never done anything artistic before?

Workshops were designed to be beginner-friendly, focusing on simple techniques like colour mixing, cut-outs, and repeat patterns. Rose and the team guided participants through every stage, and there was no pressure to have any prior art experience.

Co-Creative Connection Sundial Mural Community laughing 2.jpg

How did participants feel seeing their work up on the wall?

There was a huge sense of pride. Many participants brought friends and family to see the finished mural, pointing out their section and sharing the story behind it. It was a tangible, lasting reminder of what they had achieved together.

How can other community centres or housing associations run a similar mural project?

We’d love to help! If you’re interested in creating an inclusive, co-designed mural that celebrates your local community, get in touch via our website or email. We’re happy to talk through how the process could work in your space.

What legacy has this mural left?

The mural has become a vibrant focal point in the area, encouraging residents to stop, connect, and feel pride in their local environment. More than that, it left a lasting mark on the participants, many of whom discovered a passion for creativity and felt seen, valued and celebrated in the process.

If you have more questions about how we work, visit our full FAQ page!

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