Bespoke mural painted in Stanton Hill

A spectacular bespoke mural has been painted on the back of the Co-op in Stanton Hill. 

Commissioned by Ashfield District Council, the striking artwork celebrates the area’s industrial heritage whilst looking towards the future. Bookended by the image of a miner on one side and a young girl on the other, connected by a railway, flowers and butterflies, the mural evokes feelings of pride and community. 

The mural was designed by Nottingham based artist Anthony Donnelly of Urban Canvas, and hand-painted by Anthony alongside local artist Stephen Malcolm, from neighbouring Pleasley.

The mural has a special connection to the area; in the miner’s hand is a lamp that belonged to Stephen’s grandfather. His grandfather worked at the local pit and it was important to both artists that it was included to ensure the design reflected a real memory that people could relate to. The painted lamp is a highlight of the piece; the details replicated with care and precision. 

Anthony developed the mural’s design following initial consultation and conversations with the local community. He was inspired by the community garden in front of the wall, which also helped shape the finished artwork, with its flowers, butterflies and natural elements connecting the mural to the green space around it. The design was chosen by the Teversal, Stanton Hill and Skegby Neighbourhood Forum.

Anthony Donnelly, artist and founder of Urban Canvas, said:

“From the beginning, I wanted this mural to feel as though it genuinely belonged here. The community consultation and research gave me a real sense of the history and identity we needed to celebrate in the design.

“Including Stephen’s grandfather’s lamp gave us something particularly special. It isn’t simply an image of a miner’s lamp; it has a real story and a direct connection to the mine and to someone working on the mural today.

“Stephen has worked alongside me painting the mural, so having that connection running through the artwork gives the project an extra bit of soul. It represents what I wanted the mural to be about: local history being remembered and carried forward by people who still have a connection to it.

“We’ve had some lovely conversations with members of the local community while working on the wall, which has made the project even more special.

"The project also received valued support from local firm MM Scaffolding Solutions based in Sutton, whose contribution helped bring the community mural to life.”

For Stephen, helping to paint a mural featuring an object once used by his own grandfather has added another layer of meaning to the project:

“It’s been really special to work on this mural and that my grandfather’s lamp has become part of the design as he worked at the local pit in Shirebrook as well as Warsop Colliery. Having the opportunity to paint his lamp at this scale and celebrate this piece of our family history means lot to me.”

The two figures depicted in a photo-realistic style will be visible year-round, peeking through the trees in summer and fully exposed during winter. 

The mural was funded by part of the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning, helped choose the final design and said

"We are blown away by the quality of this mural. It’s an incredible piece of art representing Stanton Hill’s mining heritage and its bright future. The mural is a more than just a painting on a wall, it’s a love letter to the generations that helped make Ashfield great, and an inspiration to people young and old. It’s been a joy watching it come to life and we can’t wait for the rest of Ashfield to enjoy it for years to come.” 

Laura Pepper, Member Activator for Derbyshire, North and North West Nottinghamshire, added:

“We are delighted to have been able to support Ashfield District Council by hosting this striking new artwork. With the aim of the mural to celebrate the area’s industrial heritage whilst looking towards the future, along with evoking feelings of pride and community across the generations, we hope residents will enjoy the mural when they pop to the Co-op.”

The mural is one of four currently being planned across Ashfield – locations to be confirmed closer to the time of painting.

Posted on 12 October 2026