The people of Wallsend have been working with mural and graffiti artist Mark One87 to create a stunning bespoke artwork in their town’s Metro underpass.
The design is inspired by community workshops with Richardson Dees Primary School, Move It Studios and North East Family Fitness, where Mark asked local people to help him represent the heritage and identity of Wallsend.
The underpass is on the sustainable travel route that’s strengthening connections between Segedunum Roman Fort and Wallsend Metro station, with the art project funded through the North East Combined Authority as part of the Town and High Streets Innovation Programme.
It is part of North Tyneside Council’s Ambition for Wallsend, creating a vibrant and connected town that is attractive to residents, visitors and employers. Metro operator Nexus kindly gave its permission and support for the project.
People from the town not only got a chance to inspire the mural, they have also been helping to paint it, with members of North East Family Fitness and dancers from Move It Studios getting a chance to try out some spray painting alongside Mark and his assisting artist Toby Heaps.
Mark Shields AKA Mark One87 said: “The workshops brought out so many great ideas about what is important to people in Wallsend, from the Roman heritage to the shipyard workers and the town’s parks.
“The final design mixes heritage with the modern day in a vibrant, fun way. We have taken as much inspiration from the children’s ideas as possible and developed them into the final concept.
“The design includes features which represent the heritage of Wallsend, combined with the imaginative ideas which came from our workshops. Lots of the young people created designs featuring parks and wildlife which inspired a full section of the mural with an added bit of humour.
“Working with the local people of Wallsend has been great, their enthusiasm and ideas were a brilliant starting point to create something positive for the local community.
”Allowing people to get involved in projects like this is a great way to develop pride in their community.”
Claire Robinson from North East Family Fitness, whose studio in the Old Sorting Office overlooks Wallsend Metro station said: “It’s been really good getting my clients involved in this artwork, with local people generating ideas.
“We met up in the gym with about 15 to 20 of us, and everyone discussed what Wallsend meant to them and put in ideas of what they wanted to see in the underpass.
“It’s been great seeing those ideas come to life, and we’ve loved helping with the spray painting. It’s really meant a lot to me and my clients.”
Councillor Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor for North Tyneside and cabinet member responsible for Regeneration, Culture and Economic Development said: “This mural project is a fantastic example of what can happen when the community comes together to help create something special in their home town.
“It has turned a concrete Metro underpass into a work of art that the people of Wallsend can be proud of. Thanks to everyone who took part in the community workshops and helped Mark One87 create the mural.
”The new sustainable travel route is one of the ways our Ambition for Wallsend is making the town a better place to live, work and visit, with support from the brilliant groups, schools, businesses, organisations and individuals who are working in partnership with us on the scheme.”
“North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said: "This new mural for Wallsend is a brilliant example of how we can give local people the tools to transform the public spaces where they live, and help bring more people to their high streets.
"It’s about more than just brightening up a wall—it’s about pride, identity, and bringing people together to shape the future of their town. We have a rich and proud local history, and art is a fantastic way for that to be remembered and showcased.
"Bold and bright high street projects like this are central to our vision to make the North East a place we are proud to call home once again.”
Sarah McCourt, Head of Communications and Marketing at Nexus, said: “This is a brilliant collaboration which has given the local community a chance to brighten up their local Metro station.
“The completed mural is really colourful and looks amazing in the station’s underpass, celebrating Wallsend’s identity, from its Roman heritage to its proud industrial past through the shipyards.
“It’s been particularly great to see so many young people involved in the project, giving creative ideas and actually working with the artist to help with the task of painting the mural.
“Metro is at the heart of the communities it serves and plays a really important role in showcasing public artwork through our art on transport programme. We hope our customers enjoy the finished designs when they pass through the Metro station.”