Trying something new…
Stepping away from the desk to paint at Spennymoor Mural Festival 2024
Photo by Jonathan Minns
2023 saw the very first Spennymoor Mural festival, organised by Lewis Hobson from Durham Spray Paints and CYAN CIC. On the lead up to the festival, myself and my son took part in a spray paint workshop. It was our first time using spray paint and for me a very different creative outlet from what I am used to at my desk. The workshops were just a small part of the festival, which ended in a week long live mural session, filling a corner of Spennymoor with colour.
I was so excited that something creative, led by a creative person, was happening locally that I then kept over-enthusiastically showing up over the course of the festival. Connecting with lots of artists, watching their process, soaking it all in.
If you know me, you’ll know I obviously took a bunch of photos and videos, sharing them online and spreading the word. So I was proper chuffed when Lewis then reached out in 2024 to ask me to be part of the festival team. Not only to help to organise the festival, but to paint too.
For my mural, I was connected with Mark from Team Solan - a local cancer charity who help improve the quality of life of children and adults who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis or bereavement - to bring some colour to their shutters on Spennymoor high street.
KINSHIP x The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust
‘Comfort Blanket’
When people first make contact with the trust, it’s at a really challenging time in their lives. Team Solan immediately wrap a comfort blanket around them and their families, emotionally and physically. They provide bespoke help and support to make sure no one faces cancer alone.
Based on classic quilting patterns mixed with my graphic style, ‘Comfort Blanket’ is a visual expression of Team Solan’s unique and tailored approach to cancer support.
Paint kindly supplied by @montanacans
Above images by Sarah Loveland
During the festival, I also painted as part of Strike Collective, led by Nocciola The Drawer. More on that soon!
Between the support and encouragement from Lewis and Strike, I can’t wait to get more time with a spray can. I am so glad I whacked the ‘out of office’ on for a week to try something new. What’s next?