Robots, flowers and a very hot summer at The Old Library, Lockleaze
In September 2026, Co-Existence was revealed at The Old Library's 10 year anniversary party. It took months of conversations, one very hot summer and a lot of ladders to get there. Here's how it came together.
The brief
Co-Existence began as a question I couldn't leave alone: what if nature and technology weren't enemies? The idea was a mural of robots and flowers growing from the same soil, each one needing the other. The Old Library in Lockleaze felt like the right home for it, a building that has been a community hub for a decade. Circular Futures pilot funding made it possible, and I'm grateful to them for backing it.
The process started in May 2026 and I worked with the committee of The Old Library to ensure it all went to plan.
Talking to the community first
I didn't want to paint at people. Before a single line went on the wall, I talked with the people who use the space through a consultation morning inside the venue. It was great to meet some of the users and hear the things they wanted included in the mural including incorporating Stoke Park, activities that happened in the building and a muted colour scheme. Those conversations shaped the mural more than any sketchbook did - they are why it feels like it belongs to the community rather than just standing in it.
Scaling a design up
A sketch on A3 is a very different animal from a wall although I did not use any fancy VR or doodle grids to plot out the plan onto the large walls but went freehand. This was easier to do given the organic nature of the piece. Robots are forgiving to scale because their lines are confident, but flowers need room to breathe, and I kept stepping back across the car park to check the proportions. It looks so much smaller from far away, who would have thought?!
Painting through the heat
Summer 2026 was hot, and a south-facing wall doesn't care how you feel about that. I worked Monday to Friday around the rest of my life as well as events happeneing at the centre. This meant painting in whatever weather those days brought. Water breaks and sun cream was a must! The heat made me appreciate shade, hydration and the neighbours who kept turning up with encouragement, specifically the children that were so full of smiles to see what I was doing.
The reveal
The mural was completed in time for The Old Library's 10 year anniversary party in September. A decade of community, and now a wall that says something about the future of that community too.
What I'm taking away
Co-Existence reminded me why I love public art: it lets people who would never walk into a gallery have access to a piece every day.
If you'd like a mural for your building, school or community space, get in touch.
