A substation at a park in Swindon has been transformed into a work of art after locals picked up the paint brushes. The SSEN electrical substation at GWR Park in Swindon underwent roof repairs in November 2023, and was described by South Swindon Parish Council as ‘plain’ and ‘unimaginative’. But a recent community painting initiative has now brought the park to life with a mural celebrating all things Swindon, created by the people of Swindon.
Unlike most murals which see an external artist come in to spruce the place up, the GWR Park mural was created in a ‘paint by numbers’ fashion that saw all members of the community, young and old, getting involved. The mural has been painted piece by piece by members of the local Swindon community. (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) “It was a great idea getting children (and adults) to take part in the mural by ‘painting by numbers,” said local resident and mother Becky Cox, who got involved in the fun.
“My four-year-old very much enjoyed it. It will be lovely to pass by the mural when it’s complete and say that we helped create it.” The mural was designed by artists Caryyn Koh and Paul Exton from Artsite, and incorporates iconic local landmarks and images reflecting Swindon’s rich heritage.
The wall facing the Mother Language Memorial features the word “welcome” in many of the different languages that are spoken across Swindon. The new park mural aims to provide a warm welcome to visitors of Swindon (Im.