A Consett-based artist is using large-scale murals to bring communities together across the North East, with recent projects supporting cancer patients and encouraging children to engage with reading.
Vanessa Pink launched her mural practice in May after deciding to use her art degree to create work with a stronger community focus.
One of her recent projects was created inside the chemotherapy ward at Bishop Auckland Hospital, where she worked with nursing staff on an interactive “Tree of Hope” mural.
The artwork features a bare tree which gradually fills with colour as patients completing cancer treatment add a painted fingerprint leaf, creating a growing visual record of those who have reached the end of their treatment.
Vanessa has also worked with pupils and staff at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Newcastle to transform the school library. The mural incorporates stories and imagery from different cultures, reflecting the backgrounds of children within the school community and encouraging greater interest in reading.
Vanessa said her decision to pursue the work was partly inspired by a desire to make her late grandmother proud and to use art as a way of connecting people.
She said she hopes future projects will continue to involve local residents, schools and community organisations in the creative process rather than simply placing finished artwork into a space.
Her next project will take place at another North East primary school and will focus on encouraging children and their families to read together.
For the Consett artist, the growing number of commissions represents an opportunity to take locally rooted creative work into communities across the region while exploring how public art can reflect the people who use the spaces around it.
