I want to connect the history of the railways with the history of graffiti art through a series of exhibitions and murals that will examine our links to the modern culture of street art.
My current practise involves using my history as a graffiti artist to engage with hard to reach communities, create community art and work across the north east organising arts and culture projects. I’m using my experiences working as a community artist and my background as a graffiti artist to write a series of articles and a book about the culture. A hugely important part of this writing is engaging with people and getting an understanding from them about their experiences of street art.
I most often engage with people by painting in public spaces, hosting exhibitions and interviewing people. This grant would allow me to do work in Darlington to reflect on the huge railway history with a modern take, adding Darlington’s voice to the conversation.
With connections to SDR200 festival, I want to build on the history of the railways with something that will engage a different demographic to those attracted to the purely historic approach. Darlington has some fantastic spaces, businesses and areas in need of uplifting. My project will create artworks in the street that people can engage with freely, they will be long lasting and rooted in consultation with the local community.
This work will be a modern offshoot off all the great SDR200 events, with something that has a more broad appeal than the history of the railways.
The attached pictures show how I use my art to start conversations:
Image 1- Live painting at the SDR200 All Change event in front of thousands of people
Image 2- Free guided tours of 10 murals I’ve painted on the Hartlepool Headland
Image 3- Seen From Space project in partnership with Durham University, participatory floor murals across the County
I’ve recently created a series of artworks for SDR200 festival, worked on projects with Locomotion Railway Museum and Friends of SDR. I have ongoing projects across the North in; Spennymoor, Blyth, Newbiggin, Hartlepool etc. working with schools, youth groups and community groups. I have recently produced a documentary about Durham Ice Rink over the past year, based off a series of exhibitions I curated in order for the community to tell their story about a lost cultural legacy. The project has been hugely successful and we have just sold out the Gala Theatre’s largest room. I also organise my own projects through my CIC www.cyancic.uk.
I received arts council funding for Spennymoor Mural Festival, DYCP funding and local AAP funding.
I was shortlisted for North East Artist of the Year 2024.
In partnership with Durham County Council I organise several ‘legal wall’ art spaces across the county, where local artists can paint freely.
I created and organised Spennymoor Mural Festival, which was the regions first mural festival and has been instrumental in understanding and acceptance of mural art across the North East.
I’ve worked with Durham, Hartlepool, Stockton, Darlington councils.
I’ve been featured in local newspapers, BBC radio and online as well as Living North Magazine.
I have been artist in residence with Durham Sixth Form Centre in 2023/24.
Address: 17 foster terrace, croxdale, Durham (GB), Durham, DH6 5HP, GB
Local Authority: County Durham
