Light at the End of the Tunnel
Children from the Youth Justice Service worked with Community Murals Isle of Wight to design the mural for the subway at Los Altos – a space that was generally felt to be gloomy and unwelcoming.
At regular weekly workshops they mastered skills including printmaking, digital art and collage, and practiced sizing up their work and using VR headsets, to enable their designs to be transferred to the subway walls. In developing their designs, they spoke to Nige George at Artecology about how the railway network provides corridors for nature, and to Hampshire and Isle of Wight police about how improving spaces can impact antisocial behaviour and increase ‘buy in’ from young people.
It's been really good, I've enjoyed all of it. It's not only something to do, but I've got to interact with other people - I have liked that there are other people to talk to and have fun with, and doing the art and painting and drawing has been really cool. I am definitely more confident. Before all of this I was really low in confidence and self esteem - and didn't really want to go out - but this has really helped. And I am much more confident in drawing.
In the final design, developed with Community Murals Isle of Wight, they explored the way nature moves along the railway and wanted to convey a message of positivity, developing the theme of ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’.
I think a mural in the subway will really help. People won’t want to graffiti if there’s lots of pattern.
Thank you to Island Roads for power washing the subway, to volunteers from Southern Vectis for their work in preparing the subway for painting and to Sandown Library for the free venue for workshops.
This youth project will transform Sandown underpass into a vibrant, welcoming area, helping strengthen community pride and creating a more positive experience for all station users.
This project was one of three youth-led projects in and around Sandown Station that emerged out of conversations with the Bay Youth Project. Explore the other two here:
Sandown Station Project
Three youth-led projects designed to make the area in and around Sandown Station feel safer and more welcoming, and to increase community cohesion.
Read about our Changemaker work on the Isle of Wight: