A dull and grey garden wall at our Beaufort Project in Sheffield has been transformed into a vibrant outdoor feature, thanks to a customer-led mural project that brought creativity, confidence and connection to the heart of the scheme.
Supported by external funding from Sheffield Town Trust, Graves Charitable Trust and Places for People (PfP), customers at the Beaufort Project worked alongside Yorkshire community artist Ruth Dyer and producer Cara McAleese to design and create a permanent set of murals for their garden. The project gave customers the opportunity to shape their environment, learn new skills and collaborate on a lasting piece of artwork that reflects their ideas and experiences.
Beaufort Project is home for customers who have long-term mental health conditions. The team work closely with other professionals and agencies to provide a coordinated personalised service which our customers’ needs, promotes their recovery, and supports the goal to move on to independent living.
Customers at the centre of the design
The mural was developed through a series of creative workshops, where customers shared ideas inspired by their favourite animals, local nature, positive words and themes of growth and hope. These contributions were used to create design concepts that customers refined and voted on.
To ensure everyone could take part, customers were encouraged to contribute in ways that suited their confidence and interests, whether by attending workshops, voting on designs, painting sections of the mural or simply observing the creative process.
Bringing the mural to life
The murals were created across seven timber panels. The approach allowed customers to paint indoors during wet weather, work on different sections simultaneously, and create a modular artwork that can be adapted in the future.
The project concluded with a wonderful celebratory barbecue attended by customers, colleagues, artist Ruth and producer Cara.
Building confidence and wellbeing
Katie, one of the customers who created the murals said:
“It relaxes me and is good for my mental health. I’ve also joined a local art group.”
Another customer said:
“It was fun and very creative. Painting is relaxing, thinking about something other than your problems for a while.”
A lasting legacy
The completed murals have added colour and energy to the garden, creating a welcoming shared space that belongs to the customers who designed and painted them and leaves a lasting legacy for future customers.
Ruth Dyer, the artist working on the project said:
“I’m really pleased with the artistic outcome but it was also so lovely to hear from the customers, about how it was making a positive difference to them.”
Cara McAleese, the producer said:
“The benefits of art are endless. I think doing a light-hearted activity can be a good distraction and reduce stress and anxiety. Art is almost a different language in itself and allows customers to express things they may struggle to put into words.”
