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Lliswerry — Pontfaen Shops
Dozens of conversations helped shape this mural at Pontfaen Shops. Local wildlife, the wetlands and Llanwern’s industrial history came together in a design I developed with feedback from residents, pupils, teachers and passers-by.
Location: Lliswerry, Newport · Year: 2026
Partners: Tanio Cymru, Hedyn and JG Hale
My role: Consultation, research, design and mural painting
See how local conversations changed the design ↓
From conversations to a painting
I began by researching the area and talking with people about what they wanted to see. The references ranged from Llanwern’s industrial history to the Newport Wetlands, local plants and wildlife.
My job was to find connections between those ideas and bring them into a single flowing composition. People’s contributions shaped the image throughout the project, as I drew, tested and revised it.
Letting people see the design develop
I set up a work-in-progress page showing source material, early designs and later versions. People could see how the ideas were coming together and respond to something concrete. That gave us a useful way to discuss changes before I painted the wall.
Conversations at the wall
The discussions continued while I painted. Pupils, teachers and people passing the shops stopped to talk about the work and the things they recognised in it.
Some days the temperature reached around 35°C. People offered ice creams as I worked through the heat—a small detail, but one that stays with me from painting here.
The finished mural
The painting brings together the area’s nature and industrial history. Looking back through the design versions shows how much the conversations and feedback contributed to the finished image.
Explore the original design research and work-in-progress page →
Full Colour Maindee