islington council mural
The Zero Emissions Network is a partnership project between the London Boroughs of Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets and it is supported by the Mayor of London.
In 2018, Islington Council’s Zero Emissions Network received funding from the Mayor of London to create a Clean Air Walk, taking pedestrians on a less-polluted route between Whittington Hospital and Archway tube station. Bryony&Bloom was commissioned to create a mural to help draw attention to the alternative way into the town centre via Girdlestone Estate.
I consulted on my different concept proposals with the local community, specifically the Girdlestone Estate residents, the Archway Town Centre Group and Whittington Hospital staff, visitors and patients; their feedback informed my decisions about palette, composition and scale. I then spent a fortnight working within Girdlestone Estate, during which I shared my enthusiasm for lichen and chatted more broadly about air pollution.
Feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive and the British Lichen Society were delighted with the mural, too, writing “The accuracy of the lichen forms are terrific… Many thanks for lifting lichens out of the backwaters and bringing them into the light.” One comment stands out in particular to me from a woman who spent some time watching me paint before quietly summing it up with “you’re taking the grey away.” Watch the two films below for further information about this commission.
behind-the-scenes films:
Community reflections and behind-the-scenes films by Ellie Mackay of the making of Follow the Lichen.
Visit the mural
Girdlestone Walk, Archway, London
Don’t forget to tag @bryonyandbloom if you’re sharing photos!
Client testimonial:
“Bryony was contracted by Islington Council to paint a mural for a Clean Air Walking route as part of Archway Low Emission Neighbourhood, a project funded by the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund. When I initially met Bryony all my worries and concerns about the project were alleviated. Bryony was happy to work in the small timeframe we had despite this meaning she had to work in freezing conditions. Bryony took all of the complications of the project in her stride and she worked really hard to engage with the local community to make sure they were happy with the mural, speaking to as many people as she could before and during the painting process. You can tell her passion and knowledge of nature and science straight away and combined with an incredible eye for detail, artistic flair and work ethic meant the ‘Follow the Lichen’ mural was a hit with everyone. I would highly recommend Bryony for any art project, especially if it involves nature, science or the public. I feel incredibly lucky to have met and worked with her and hope our paths cross again in the future.”