Over the past ten years, the suburb south-west of Notts: Beeston, has become a hub for striking and inspiring street art, thanks to the efforts of the ever-industrious Beeston Civic Society. From tributes to Nottingham legends like Paul Smith and Richard Beckinsale, to an artistic interpretation of the butterflies that migrate from Africa to Attenborough Nature Reserve and Beeston Marina, take a stroll through Beeston and you’ll be treated to many visual treats lauding local culture. We asked Jeanie Barton, the person who set the Beeston street art wheels in motion, to tell us more about it.
How did this flourishing of street art come about in Beeston?
I grew up in Beeston and after many years of living in London returned with my husband and son in 2014. My husband, and indeed I, missed the vibrancy of our north London surroundings but we were both surprised and pleased to meet many creative people up here - writers, directors, musicians etcetera. We thought that Beeston didn’t look as arty as it actually is. In a discussion on the local Facebook group: Beeston Updated, I found many other residents felt exactly the same, so I created another group called Beeston Street Art with the aim of bringing street art to Beeston to showcase our creative character - it all grew from there.
Can you talk a bit about your role and what first inspired you to get involved?
I quickly met some people who were in the local Civic Society who told me there was an £8,000 art fund that Broxtowe Council had needed to be spent on art or returned to land development firm Henry Boot. We set our sights on finding permission for walls in the vicinity of where this ring-fenced fund must be used, and reached out to collect design offers from local artists via social media, in the Nottingham Post and on Nottingham BBC Radio. As a professional musician myself, I had a following and contacts that I could use to generate this, but this escapade was purely a hobby. Once we had connected with lots of artists we held a street art festival in 2018, which we crowdfunded for and also attracted sponsors to support it. I kind of became the event and project manager, which involved learning to drive lift equipment, and a lot of carrying pavement barriers and undercoating huge walls - certainly not a desk job (thanks to all those who helped me)!
What artists have you worked with and what are some of your favourite pieces so far?
We have over fifty artworks around Beeston now and it’s really difficult to say which if any are my favourite, as they are all so different! I’m fond of The Painted Lady by Jim Vision, as that is nearest my home and was a massive scoop for us, being entirely gifted; painted using leftover paints we had from artist Zabou’s chosen council commission on the precinct. I’ve met so many very generous people throughout this project. Local artists, whose outstanding work features here, include [this month’s cover artist] Emily Catherine, Onga, Anna Wheelhouse, Buber Nebz, Dubcat, Rubes, Nicholas Wright, Helen Stephenson, Kid30, RJ77 Stencils, and many many more.
How do you approach artists to feature?
We met a lot of local artists Sylvia and Dilk at Montana, who were then in Hockley and are now in Sneinton market - they were very helpful in introducing me to the scene. But we mainly connected originally by social media - more often than not artists approach me, the Facebook group, or Beeston Civic Society to ask if they can get involved.
I think it’s really given Beeston a sense of place and individuality, with some works celebrating the history of Beeston, or its people, plus our nature and heritage
What atmosphere and message do you wish to spread with these works of art?
I like the artists to have artistic freedom so any message is theirs, not mine! I think that minus any significant curating we have a broad spectrum of themes and styles, which is what I like about this project - it keeps evolving on its own now, with little input from me. I just tend to matchmake building owners with artists.
From your perspective, what role does street art play in shaping a town's identity or culture? And how has it influenced Beeston specifically?
I think it’s really given Beeston a sense of place and individuality, with some works celebrating the history of Beeston, or its people, plus our nature and heritage. It now looks and feels more like the rather edgy place we moved to in 2014: not so run-of-the-mill suburbia, with outdated seventies utilitarian builds, which removed the previous character of the town when they were imposed on us. We’ve gained national and international press with our artworks, and three Light Nights have been born out of it too, so businesses have really benefitted and our high street is grateful of the new and evolving attractions, which clearly create and maintain a vibrant atmosphere.
How would you recommend people engage with the art in Beeston? Are there related events or a trail they can follow?
There’s a Google map, and information about all the pieces around town, on our web page. We occasionally do tours, which you can keep up with via the website.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with LeftLion readers?
Just to thank them for looking in on Beeston - we also have a Blue Plaque trail and, soon-to-be announced, an Eco trail! We appreciate your support.
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