Early Years Hub Mural by Hells Gibson

Working with WPCA, and Urban Forest Tribe, Hells Gibson has designed a new mural for the external walls of Whittington Park Community Centre’s Early Years Hub. The building sits in the centre of Whittington Park, opposite the busy AstroTurf pitch and next to the children’s playground, making it an integral part of the park. For years, this building has catered to the children and community of Islington.

The mural will be an educational and interactive wall for users of the park, designed especially with children in mind. The design intertwines flora, fauna and fungi found in Whittington Park and the legend of Dick Whittington’s rat-catching Cat. On each section of the wall, a flower or plant that can be found in the park will be painted, with a small educational text description from Urban Forest Tribe*. Cats will chase rat shapes in and out of the flowers to help children and viewers “follow Dick Whittington’s cat through the mural”. Text will be in the Whittington Park Community Association’s signature white with orange shadow to tie in with the hall and bring the spaces together.

Hells Gibson is a local artist specialising in text art, screen-printing and community murals. She was born and lives in Archway, going to Yerbury Primary School, Acland Burghley and most recently hosting a group exhibition and solo show at local gallery The Gallery At The Playroom. Community is at the heart of everything Hells does, and she is proud to have worked on this public mural that will bring colour and life to such an important local building. *Urban Forest Tribe is an organisation dedicated to working with children, young people, adults, and families of all backgrounds, needs, and abilities within the natural world. This is achieved through learner-led, play-based outdoor nature connection sessions, projects, and events. www.urbanforesttribe.com

For more information or images, please contact hellsgibson@gmail.com